KANNUR: The Congress is facing a severe crisis in Taliparamba as it grapples with a rebel candidate in the fray. The party’s lone rebel in Kerala, Koyyam Janardhanan, has made it clear that he will press ahead with his poll campaign despite what he describes as escalating threats from UDF leadership.
Janardhanan was blocked by Congress workers on Saturday when he arrived at Valapattanam to offer floral tributes at a Gandhi Stupa as part of his campaign outreach.
Reacting to the incident, former KPCC member and DCC secretary Janardhanan told the TNIE that he fears the assault could be the first of many attempts to intimidate him in the coming days.
“I know every Congress worker in Taliparamba. I even know the person who attacked me on Saturday. I am fully aware of how far some Congress workers here can go. I am prepared to face similar attacks in the days ahead,” he said.
Janardhanan also asserted that he would continue his campaign, claiming he is receiving strong backing from grassroots Congress workers. According to him, his candidacy emerged from pressure by local supporters who were unhappy with the party leadership’s decision.
“I became a candidate because of the insistence of the people. The leadership asked me to withdraw, but ordinary Congress workers here wanted someone to contest on the Congress symbol. Instead, the party chose to back CPM’s T K Govindan. I am contesting in protest against this betrayal. What is the guarantee that Govindan will remain with the UDF? The leadership is deceiving Congress workers,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, Janardhanan’s entry into the fray is believed to be indirectly benefiting the CPM in Taliparamba, where the party was already dealing with internal turmoil and allegations of nepotism.
Senior CPM leader and former Taliparamba area committee secretary T K Govindan had earlier rebelled against the party leadership, alleging nepotism in the decision to field P K Shyamala as the CPM candidate.
However, CPM sources said Janardhanan’s candidacy has eased pressure on the party in the constituency. “We were expecting a tight contest here. But with Janardhanan entering the fray, a section of Congress votes is likely to shift towards him. Even if the victory margin reduces slightly, Shyamala is expected to win comfortably,” a CPM source said.