Despite a near-landslide victory, the United Democratic Front (UDF) finds itself grappling with uncomfortable questions over cross-voting and organisational lapses in Pathanamthitta during the recent Assembly elections, casting a shadow over its otherwise impressive electoral performance in the district.

The Congress has already moved against two of its block-level office-bearers in Konni, where its candidate, Satish Kochuparambil, lost by a narrow margin. The action follows internal findings that the two leaders failed to discharge their organisational responsibilities, remained largely inactive during the campaign, and even came up with remarks against the party candidate on social media.

According to District Congress Committee president Mr. Kochuparambil, Konni block vice-president K.R. Manoharan and block general secretary Jayesh Punnamoodu have been removed from their posts. Party sources said Mr. Manoharan stayed away from active campaigning and exhibited 'serious indiscipline,’ while Mr. Punnamoodu is accused of posting derogatory remarks against the party candidate online.

Issues warning

Mr. Kochuparambil has warned that similar action would follow in other constituencies if any party worker is found to have worked against the UDF candidates during the election.

The disciplinary crackdown comes in the wake of the UDF’s lone setback in the district, where Mr. Kochuparambil lost Konni to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate K.U. Jenish Kumar by a margin of 1,838 votes. Of the five Assembly constituencies in Pathanamthitta, Konni was the only seat that slipped from the UDF’s grasp.

In Aranmula

Likewise, the Congress has also opened a probe into allegations of cross-voting and deliberate lapses in election work in Aranmula. Though UDF candidate Abin Varkey, who secured victory in the constituency, intervened to rein in dissent during a meeting of the Assembly Constituency Committee on Wednesday, the gathering ended in uproar, forcing the leadership to order an inquiry as tempers ran high within the party ranks.

"With a majority firmly insisting that the names of those who 'betrayed’ the party must be revealed and that disciplinary action be taken, the meeting concluded with a consensus to appoint an inquiry commission,’’ noted a party leader.