Congress Accuses Suresh Gopi of Submitting False Affidavit, Files Police Complaint

Congress accuses Suresh Gopi of submitting a false affidavit to the voters' list in Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. The party filed a police complaint against the Union Minister and accused him of staying at a residence for only a few days, not six months as claimed. If found guilty, Gopi's vote could be declared invalid, leading to a loss of his Lok Sabha membership. The BJP won the constituency in the 2024 general election with Gopi defeating CPI and Congress candidates.

The Congress party in Kerala has lodged a police complaint against Union Minister Suresh Gopi, accusing him of submitting a false affidavit to the voters' list in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency. The complaint alleges that Gopi claimed to have stayed in the constituency for more than six months, which is a requirement for inclusion in the voters' list, when in reality, he resided there for only a few days [1].

The complaint was filed by former Thrissur MP T.N. Prathapan, who presented evidence to the Thrissur Police Commissioner on August 12, 2025. Prathapan alleged that Gopi and his family members falsely testified to the Election Commission of India (ECI) about their residency in Thrissur. Prathapan also alleged large-scale manipulation of the voters' list, with an estimated 60,000 fake voters added to the list using fictitious identity proofs [1].

If found guilty, Gopi's vote could be declared invalid, potentially leading to a loss of his Lok Sabha membership. The BJP won the Thrissur constituency in the 2024 general election with Gopi defeating CPI and Congress candidates. Gopi's victory was significant as it marked the BJP's first-ever Lok Sabha win in Kerala [2].

The Congress party has been vocal about the alleged electoral fraud, with several leaders demanding Gopi's resignation. The party has also called for a comprehensive audit of the voters' list, citing irregularities in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections [3]. The party has accused the BJP and the EC of collusion in manipulating the voters' list.

The BJP has not yet responded to the allegations. The party's Thrissur city unit president, Justin Jacob, has maintained that the names added to the electoral list were of residents of the constituency and deserving of inclusion. However, the party has been criticized for Gopi's alleged absence from Thrissur and his silence on critical issues, such as the arrests of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh [3].

The incident highlights the ongoing political tension in Kerala and the broader debate around electoral integrity in India. As the Congress party continues to allege electoral fraud, the Election Commission of India will need to investigate the claims thoroughly to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/congress-in-kerala-lodges-police-complaint-against-union-minister-suresh-gopi-alleges-electoral-fraud/article69923307.ece
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/congress-to-audit-voters-list-over-irregularities-in-2019-lok-sabha-elections-k-c-venugopal/articleshow/123218534.cms
[3] https://theprint.in/statedraft/absent-rude-a-year-on-suresh-gopis-star-win-fades-in-thrissur-amid-voter-trust-deficit/2719092/