FIR against NDA workers over alleged cash-for-votes in Kerala's Palakkad

Palakkad (Kerala): Police on Wednesday registered a case against representatives of the BJP-led NDA in Palakkad constituency in an alleged incident of bribing a voter ahead of the Kerala Assembly polls.

The FIR was registered by the Palakkad Town South police in connection with an incident involving NDA candidate Sobha Surendran, officials said.

The FIR alleges that, on April 8 at around 10 am, representatives of the alliance went from house to house in Palakkad and distributed money to voters to influence the 2026 Assembly election.

The complaint, filed under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act, terms the act a violation of election rules and bribery of voters.

The FIR comes amid a political controversy triggered by allegations from the Congress, which claimed Surendran was "caught red-handed" distributing cash during the silent campaign period ahead of the April 9 polls.

Surendran, a leader of the BJP, denied the charges, calling them fabricated and politically motivated.

She alleged that a local Congress leader and a television journalist were behind the claims and said she would approach the police.

The dispute centres on a video aired by television channels, in which the Congress alleges money is being handed over, while Surendran maintains it has been misinterpreted.

An elderly woman seen in the visuals denied receiving cash for votes, but said she had asked for Rs 5,000 for medicines.