Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan traded accusations of clandestinely pursuing a “special affinity” with the Sangh Parivar.
Mr. Vijayan said the Congress was loath to name Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) as primarily responsible for the violence in Kannur. It had pointedly refused to condemn the killing of Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres by the fundamentalist outfits. Acknowledging the truth would alienate die-hard fundamentalist votes from the Congress. Islamist and Sangh Parivar's votes had won the Congress the Thrikkakara Assembly seat in the recent byelection.
So far, political violence had claimed eight lives in Kerala since 2021. The Congress, the RSS and the SDPI were responsible for the murders, including slaying of four CPI(M) workers. Congress leaders in the State were on the brink of defecting to the BJP as they did to undermine the Left government in Tripura.
