New controversies erupt on polling day in Kerala, as Kundara LDF candidate and Fisheries Minister Mercykutty Amma said that EMCC Director Shiju Varghese tries to sabotage the election. Earlier, in the morning, Shiju claimed that a few members had tried to attack him with homemade bombs, but couldn’t submit any evidence for his claims.
However, Mercykutty Amma said that the police had taken him into custody, and according to her, there was a canister full of kerosene in his vehicle when the special branch officers had detained him. She alleged that these incidents were part of a conspiracy to sabotage the elections from the very beginning. “They tried to shake Kerala on Election Day by saying that the Left had tried to burn him. However, the coup attempt failed and police would investigate who was behind it,” she added.
On the other hand, the police rejected the minister’s claim and they said that Shiju Varghese had not been taken into custody. According to them, Shiju arrived at the police station to lodge a complaint that a bombing attempt against him had taken place. They said that Shiju’s statement is being recorded and that they seized no fuel from his car. Meanwhile, the opposition has claimed that this entire sequence of events is a play to fool the people.
Shiju had announced his candidature following the state government cutting ties with EMCC India in the deep-sea fishing deals after the opposition brought out the evidence. According to reports, Shiju claimed that Mercykutty Amma had cheated him in the project and he is contesting elections to convince the people. He even alleged that if the government had any deep-sea fishing policy, then they should have made it clear earlier. He even blames the minister and minister's office. Shiju allegedly said that legal action would be initiated against the minister in connection with the controversy.
