Kottayam, April 7 (IANS) With just 48 hours left for voting to start, in a shocking incident that has sent ripples through Kerala’s political landscape, a farmer was found hanging inside the CPI local committee office at Thalayazham in Vaikom, a constituency represented by the party.
The deceased, Chellappan Pulikkasheri, a local farmer and agricultural researcher, had earlier levelled serious allegations against party leaders, making his death particularly contentious.
Chellappan had publicly accused CPI district and local leaders of destroying his livelihood and subjecting him to sustained harassment.
Through social media posts and a video, he had criticised the party’s policies and the alleged excesses of certain leaders.
He claimed that the crops he had painstakingly cultivated and other sources of income were wiped out due to the intervention of influential party functionaries.
Chellappan also alleged that despite repeated attempts, he was denied permission to meet the Agriculture Minister and warned that he faced threats of retaliation after the elections.
Friends and relatives say Chellappan had been under severe mental distress, having complained that he was betrayed by leaders he had trusted and supported.
Preliminary indications suggest that this distress may have driven him to take the extreme step inside the party office itself, a move that has amplified the political fallout.
The incident triggered widespread outrage, with a large crowd gathering outside the CPI office.
Angry locals and relatives refused to allow the body to be removed until the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) reached the spot.
Police presence has been stepped up, but proceedings were delayed due to public anger and protests.
Locals have demanded stringent action against those they hold responsible, while various organisations are preparing for protests seeking a high-level probe and immediate arrests.
The death has placed the CPI and the ruling LDF government in a tight spot, especially given Vaikom’s political significance as its stronghold.
Opposition parties have seized on the issue, alleging that the incident exposes how party leadership treats its own grassroots workers and farmers.
–IANS
sg/dpb