Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan has accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of instigating widespread violence in Kannur district. Satheesan claims that the party, fearing electoral loss, has turned to intimidation and attacks. He has called on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene immediately and direct party workers to halt the violence.
Satheesan alleges that targeted violence incidents have been recorded in various parts of the district, including Payyannur, Mayyil, and Taliparamba. He mentions an attack on the house of T. Purushothaman, a supporter of United Democratic Front-backed independent candidate V. Kunjikrishnan, where his car was set ablaze. Several other residences were also vandalized, with campaign graffiti supporting Kunjikrishnan being destroyed.
According to Satheesan, these assaults were carried out with the knowledge of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership. He criticizes the party’s state and district leaders for not denouncing the violence, accusing them of operating like a criminal gang that cannot tolerate political graffiti. Satheesan further alleges that CPI(M) workers used itching powder, locally known as naykkuruna, against United Democratic Front booth agents in Dharmadam, the Chief Minister’s constituency.
Similar incidents were reported in Nadapuram, Perambra, Tanur, Kattakkada, and Nemom, as per Satheesan’s claims. He has called for immediate intervention by the Election Commission of India to ensure robust police action and prevent further violence, suggesting that the attacks seem organized to disrupt law and order.
Notably, ahead of the upcoming polls, the CPI(M) faced significant backlash as three former legislators joined the Congress-led United Democratic Front, and two prominent grassroots leaders in Kannur switched to the United Democratic Front as candidates. Kerala will discover its new government on May 4.
