Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticized former Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P.K. Sasi during an election rally in Ottapalam, calling him a “traitor” and emphasizing that betrayal is not rewarded by history. This marks the first time Vijayan has publicly attacked Sasi, who was previously a party colleague and a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Shornur in 2016. The political stakes in Ottapalam have heightened due to Sasi’s defection to the United Democratic Front.
Sasi, a former prominent figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Palakkad, had won the 2016 Assembly elections from Shornur. However, he was denied a ticket for the 2021 polls, leading to a rift with the party leadership. Despite later being appointed as Chairman of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, he resigned from the position before the elections, indicating a deepening divide within the party.
The rift between Sasi and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) escalated when Sasi participated in a dissidents’ convention in Palakkad and openly criticized the district leadership. In response, the state leadership swiftly expelled him from primary membership during a State Committee meeting. With Sasi now contesting with the United Democratic Front’s support, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has intensified its criticism, labeling his move as political opportunism.
Kerala CM Vijayan expanded his criticism beyond Sasi to target the Congress-led front as well. He accused the Centre of pursuing policies that weaken Kerala instead of aiding its progress, emphasizing the state’s commitment to secular values. Vijayan expressed opposition to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, criticizing the United Democratic Front for not challenging these policies effectively in Parliament. He alleged that the United Democratic Front’s stance aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s interests in weakening Kerala.
As the election campaign gains momentum, Ottapalam has become a fiercely contested battleground, characterized by personal rivalries and ideological clashes shaping a highly charged electoral competition.
