Thiruvananthapuram/Thrissur, Dec 11, 2025 — The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Congress have accused BJP MP and Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi of “double voting” in Kerala’s local elections, raising questions about the integrity of voter registration and residency claims.

The controversy erupted after Gopi, along with his wife and family members, cast their votes on Tuesday at a polling booth in the Sasthamangalam ward of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation. The voting was part of the first phase of Kerala’s three-tier local body elections.

Allegations of double voting stem from the fact that Gopi, along with some family members, had reportedly cast votes last year at a polling booth in Nettissery, located in Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. Gopi had shifted his permanent residency to Thrissur last year and added his name to the voter list there, claiming that he was a permanent resident in that constituency.

Opposition Criticism

CPI leader VS Sunil Kumar, who had contested against Gopi in the 2024 general elections, alleged that the BJP MP violated the Election Commission’s rules. “He added his name to the voter list last year in Thrissur claiming he was a permanent resident here. Hundreds of names were also added fraudulently by the BJP of people claiming to be ordinary residents. Now, in the local body elections, Gopi has voted in Sasthamangalam. He has to explain why he did this. The Election Commission also must answer,” Kumar told reporters.

Joseph Tajat, Thrissur district president of the Congress, echoed the criticism, saying, “He has cheated the people of Thrissur by falsely claiming that he is a permanent resident here. He must apologise to the public and resign as MP.”

The allegations also draw attention to an earlier complaint filed by Kumar with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging fraudulent additions to the Thrissur voter list at the behest of Gopi and the BJP. According to Kumar, the complaint was never acted upon.

BJP Response

The BJP has rejected the allegations, maintaining that Gopi did not engage in double voting. Karamana Jayan, Thiruvananthapuram district president of the BJP, explained that voter lists for local body elections are separate from those used in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. “Gopi’s name in the local body polls remains in Thiruvananthapuram. That’s why he voted here. He has not removed his name from the list here or added it there in Thrissur. Such allegations are baseless,” he said.

Voter Registration and Local Body Polls

Kerala’s local body elections operate under voter lists maintained separately from state and national elections. This has created a situation where an individual’s name could remain on the Thiruvananthapuram municipal voter list despite being registered as a permanent resident in another constituency for higher-level elections. Such discrepancies often lead to political disputes, as in this case.

HT reached out to officials from both the ECI and the State Election Commission (SEC) for comment, but neither responded to inquiries.

Political Implications

The controversy has stirred political debates in Kerala, with opposition parties portraying Gopi’s actions as an abuse of electoral norms, while the BJP defends its MP and insists there has been no breach of election rules. The issue underscores ongoing concerns about voter registration accuracy, migration between constituencies, and political accountability in state and local elections.

As the matter develops, it is expected to trigger discussions in both political and administrative circles regarding the integrity of voter lists, residency requirements, and the processes for rectifying discrepancies ahead of elections.