Kerala poll panel asks for report on bishop council letter
By IANSThursday, July 29, 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala’s state election commissioner has asked for a report on a letter by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) asking people not to vote for independent candidates who are atheists in the upcoming local bodies poll.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) P. Kamalkutty has asked the Ernakulam district collector for a report on the KCBC letter read out in all churches after Sunday mass on July 18.
The letter asked the faithful not to vote for independent candidates who are atheists in the local bodies poll due to be held in September.
The SEC decided to write to the collector to make inquiries following complaints from Ernakulam.
“We had come out with a similar letter during the last Lok Sabha elections as well,” said KCBC spokesperson Stephen Alathara.
Catholics account for more than half of the 23 percent Christians in the 3.20 crore population of the state.
