Fresh attack on Kerala CPI(M) rebel leader deepens rift in party

Kannur: A fresh political flashpoint has erupted in Kerala’s Kannur with the alleged arson attack on a shrimp farm owned by former CPI(M) member T. Purushothaman, a key supporter of rebel MLA V. Kunjikrishnan, intensifying the post-election turmoil within the party.

The incident comes at a time when the CPI(M)’s national and state leadership is reviewing the Left’s crushing defeat in the Assembly elections, where its strength in the 140-member Kerala Assembly plummeted from 99 seats to just 35.

The developments in Kannur, long projected as the CPI(M)’s strongest organisational district in the country, have emerged as a major concern after two of its traditional bastions, Payyannur and Taliparamba, fell to rebel candidates backed by the Congress-led UDF, exposing deep fissures within the party.

The attack occurred at Kandankali in Payyannur, where a shed used for storing shrimp farming equipment was allegedly set ablaze shortly after midnight.

Purushothaman discovered the damage when he reached the farm on Thursday morning to feed the shrimp. The shed, which housed shrimp feed, nets, transport boxes, pipes and trays, was completely destroyed.

Purushothaman also alleged that an unidentified liquid substance had been mixed into the shrimp pond in an attempt to kill the shrimp juveniles and suspected that an explosive substance may have been used to carry out the attack.

This is the second such attack on him. During the Assembly election campaign, his house was attacked and his car set on fire.

Five CPI(M) workers were later arrested in connection with that case. Purushothaman alleged that the latest attack was politically motivated and blamed former MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan, claiming he had publicly targeted him in recent days.

“For the past several days, CPI(M) workers have been planning attacks against those who supported V. Kunjikrishnan. There was a sustained campaign against me on social media after the former MLA spoke against me. This attack followed that,” he alleged.

He said a formal police complaint would be lodged.

The latest incident is likely to further embarrass the CPI(M) leadership, which is already grappling with the political fallout from its worst electoral setback in decades and the widening cracks in its once impregnable Kannur stronghold.

IANS