With the Congress’ humiliating defeat in all five poll-bound states, its electoral story seems to be all but over. Other political parties probably have realised it and thus are mocking the ‘Grand Old Party’ like anything else. Recently, a war of words broke out between Congress and Kerala CPM. Believe it or not but the vocal war between the two resembles the gruesome fights between some seasoned gangsters in the streets.
How did it all begin?
CPM and Congress are currently at loggerheads with each other over killing of a Communist Party member. On January 10, Students’ Federation of India (SFI ) leader Dheeraj Rajendran was stabbed to death by a Youth Congress member. Congress state president K Sudhakaran came out in support of the accused Nikhil Paily and defended him saying that he is innocent.
Sudhakaran’s comment that “Dheeraj’s death was in the asking” has infuriated the CPM workers in Idukki. Moreover, Sudhakaran has been a vocal critic of Marxist party and has been challenging the CPM every now and then.
“Sudhakaran’s life is CPM’s favour”, says CPM leader
The Idukki district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), C V Varghese, in a video, can be seen threatening Congress leader. He stated, “Sudhakaran’s life is CPM’s favour. We have no intention to kill a wretched creature.”
Soon after the statement kicked up a row, CPM Idukki district secretary C V Varghese attempted to justify his statement. Varghese justified by saying that his speech was a tit-for-tat to a provocative speech by Sudhakaran himself. However, the Congress approached the state police chief seeking legal action against Varghese.
Comparing Varghese to a street goon, opposition leader Satheesan said, “A case should be registered against the CPM leader as it could have triggered social tension. We will not allow even a pinch of soil to fall on Sudhakaran.”
Sudhakaran, notably, is known for his aggressive behaviour and was involved in a verbal spat with Marxist veteran and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He attempted to rake up conflicts during their student days. Soon after he took charge as the KPCC chief, Sudhakaran had claimed that “During his college days he had knocked down Pinarayi Vijayan at the Government Brennen College in Thalassery.” Vijayan, too, had responded claiming that he had spared Sudhakaran back then.
One probably will not be able to believe that the people involved in the fight are two leaders of prominent parties as it is no lesser than how street goons usually fight with each other.