Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday ordered a vigilance inquiry into reports of worm-infested food kits distributed by the Meppadi Grama Panchayat to survivors of the landslides in Chooralmala-Mundakai, Wayanad district.
The inquiry was ordered based on media reports about the food kits, according to a release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
Vijayan instructed that a report be submitted immediately.
The investigation follows a note submitted by the Chief Secretary to the CM about the incident. The inquiry will focus on whether the Panchayat distributed old stock or if the food grains were tampered with in any way.
A preliminary investigation has already been conducted, added the release.
The ruling LDF had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India seeking an inquiry into the seizure of food kits carrying pictures of Congress leaders at Tholpetty in the district.
The Left party alleged that the kits were brought for distribution to voters in an attempt to influence them in favour of the Congress in the November 13 by-poll.
"Complaints were lodged to the Central Election Commission and Wayanad District Collector seeking an investigation into the issue," LDF district convener and former MLA CK Saseendran said on Friday.
"The UDF is violating the election rules and norms by distributing food kits to voters in Wayanad. The kits carrying pictures of Congress leaders were distributed in the guise of assistance to the landslide victims," alleged a LDF leader.
A political controversy erupted in Wayanad ahead of the Lok Sabha by-elections after around 30 food kits, carrying pictures of Congress leaders were seized by the flying squad of the Election Commission and the police on Thursday at Tholpetty in the district.
The kits, containing tea dust, sugar, rice, and other grocery items and carrying pictures of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, were seized from a flour mill located near the residence of a local Congress leader, according to sources.
The kit is labelled for distribution to landslide victims, sources added.
According to Congress leaders, these were the same kits previously brought in for distribution to the survivors of the Wayanad landslide disaster on July 30.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is the UDF candidate for the Wayanad by-poll, where she will be contesting against CPI candidate and senior leader Sathyan Mokeri and the BJP candidate Navya Haridas.
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