Kerala: Payyanur MLA accuses CPM leadership of evading responsibility for poll loss

Kannur, Aug 30 (IANS) CPM whistleblower and Payyannur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan has launched a sharp attack on former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing the party leadership of refusing to accept responsibility for its electoral setback in the constituency.

Kunhikrishnan’s response came after Vijayan addressed a political explanation meeting in Payyannur, long regarded as one of the CPM’s strongest bastions. Vijayan had used the meeting to criticise the MLA’s conduct and political position.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Kunhikrishnan alleged that the leadership’s explanation effectively placed responsibility for the defeat on ordinary party workers and voters. He said the speeches by Vijayan and senior leader K K Ragesh conveyed that neither the CPM nor its candidate was responsible for the result.

Invoking communist leader K Damodaran, Kunhikrishnan recalled that Damodaran had reportedly refused to defend the police firing on protesting Hindustan Cashew Factory workers at Chandanathope in Kollam during the EMS government in 1957, despite being instructed by the party to justify the incident.

Kunhikrishnan, a former member of the CPM Kannur district committee, contested the recent election as a UDF-backed independent. His campaign centred on alleged financial irregularities involving former MLA T I Madhusoodanan. These included accusations concerning money collected for the family of slain CPM worker C V Dhanraj, election funds and contributions for constructing a party office.

The CPM rejected the allegations and fielded Madhusoodanan again.

Vijayan, during Saturday’s meeting, accused Kunhikrishnan of creating public suspicion, weakening the organisation from within and establishing links with political opponents. He described the Payyannur MLA as an “axe in the hands of the party’s enemies.”

Responding to the attack, Kunhikrishnan said the leadership was unwilling to accept the people’s verdict or correct its mistakes. Citing a CPM Central Committee report, he said it had identified organisational weaknesses, including alleged arrogance, corruption, nepotism and extravagant lifestyles among leaders.

He also claimed that the report had acknowledged lapses in selecting candidates in Payyannur and Taliparamba. Kunhikrishnan further questioned the management of party funds in Payyannur, claiming that the accounts had required repeated audits following delays and lapses.

He maintained that he disclosed the details only after completing an audit ordered by the party. The MLA also targeted Vijayan over the allegations surrounding the CMRL case, accusing him of failing to respond adequately despite the emergence of reports and purported evidence.

All the allegations remain disputed by Vijayan and the CPM. Kunhikrishnan said his political commitment was to communist ideology and the truth, rather than to any individual leader. He asserted that criticism, threats or attempts to isolate him would not prevent him from continuing to question the party leadership.

–IANS

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