Case against BJP councillor for 'blocking' UDF candidate's poll campaign in Palakkad

Palakkad (Kerala): A case has been registered against a BJP councillor and two others for allegedly blocking the political campaign of UDF candidate Rammesh Pisharody two days ago, police said on Friday.

An FIR has been registered against BJP councillor Sindhu Rajan, her daughter Sneha and her brother Vijayakumar, under sections 126 (wrongful restraint), 351 (criminal intimidation), 171 (undue influence at elections) and 3(5)(common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Representation of People Act, police said

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The trio allegedly prevented Pisharody from entering the BJP stronghold area of Manakkalthodi in Vadakkanthara here on the evening of April 1 and accused him and his party members of being close to those accused of misbehaving with women, according to the FIR.

The case has been registered following a complaint by a woman residing in Manakkalthodi.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Thursday condemned the incident and called the BJP "intolerant".

Pisharody had described the act as "undemocratic".

NDA candidate and BJP leader Sobha Surendran had said that Pisharody was stopped following his alleged anti-women remarks.

Surendran had also alleged that the UDF candidate's stance was supportive of offenders, which led to protests by women who stopped him, and demanded that he apologise for his remarks.

The elections to the Kerala Assembly, which has 140 seats, will be held on April 9.