The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala addressed the circulation of a letter from the Election Commission with the BJP seal on Malayalam news channels. Kerala is set for elections on April 9, with 2.72 crore voters for the 140 legislative seats. A clerical error led to the inadvertent distribution of the BJP-sealed document to other parties, which was promptly rectified.
The BJP Kerala Unit had sought clarification on 2019 guidelines about candidate criminal antecedents, submitting a photocopy of the directive with their seal. The electoral office overlooked the party symbol on the document, which was then shared with other parties. The guidelines have been updated post-2019, with a formal withdrawal of the erroneous document issued on March 21 to all concerned parties.
The Deputy Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged and rectified the error promptly, ensuring that all parties, election officers, and the media were informed. The public is urged not to propagate misinformation due to this clerical mistake. The Election Commission maintains strict protocols to safeguard the electoral process from external influences.
