A controversy erupted on social media over photos of voters washing and touching the feet of BJP's Palakkad candidate E Sreedharan. In the picture, a voter garlanded him and in another kneeling before him. In another picture, a voter is seen washing Sreedharan's feet. Many including women are seen touching his feet and greeting.
The photos are widely circulated on social media claiming that these are cultural values that existed in ancient times. Some others criticised saying that casteism and aristocracy are evident in these images.
In another incident, black oil was poured on the flex boards of Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran at Pangappara and Kuttichal area. Some posters were even torn down. The CPM has accused the opposition parties and will lodge a complaint with the Srikakulam police.
Kadakampally will be contesting from Kazhakoottam for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections and his main opponents are Congress's SS Lal and BJP's Shobha Surendran.
Meanwhile, the dispute over the election symbol of a farmer driving tractor between PJ Joseph's Kerala Congress and Indian Christian secular candidate Baby in Changanassery still continues. A decision on this matter will be made on March 22.
