EC suspends Kannur district information officer over alleged PRD release favouring LDF candidate

The Election Commission of India (EC) has suspended the district information officer in Kannur following allegations that the government’s Public Relations department (PRD) issued an official press release favouring a Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The action was taken based on a report submitted by the District Collector to the commission, finding the move inconsistent with the requirement of a neutral election process.

The controversy centres on a press release issued by the PRD, which reportedly carried a complaint by K.V. Sumesh, the LDF candidate in the Azhikode constituency. The release highlighted alleged personal attacks against the candidate, triggering accusations of misuse of an official government platform for electoral purposes.

The Kannur District Congress Committee had earlier termed the act a serious breach of election norms. However, PRD officials in Kannur maintained that the content was issued by the election wing for dissemination to the media. With the issue escalating into a political controversy, the EC intervened and sought a detailed report from the Collector before ordering disciplinary action.

In Azhikode, Kareem Cheleri, district president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), is the UDF candidate, while K.K. Vinod Kumar, BJP Kannur district president, is in the fray as the NDA candidate.