Kerala CPM Infighting: War of words continues as Manu Thomas lambasts 'hit squads'
Kannur: A few weeks ago, while discussing the humiliating defeat suffered in the Lok Sabha election, Kerala Communist Party of India-Marxist's Kannur District Secretary MV Jayarajan had said that social media posts by certain sections of the CPM had played a crucial part in the fall of party. A discussion ensued following his remark, as Porali Shaji, a prominent group on Meta, had come out criticising the leadership asking them to conduct a sincere introspection. During the discussions, many pointed out that thoughtless and arrogant posture adopted by self styled party supporters while defending and justifying party positions has been causing immense harm to the party distancing them from the general public.
Once again, party leadership’s apprehensions regarding social media battles have become true. Former CPM district committee member Manu Thomas is being attacked by unappointed party supporters like Akash Thillankeri, an ousted member of the CPM who is also an accused in the murder of a youth congress worker. Considered a staunch loyalist of P Jayarajan when the Kannur strongman was the party district secretary, Akash is the prime accused in the murder of SP Shuhaib, a youth congress worker who was hacked to death by a gang of CPM workers at Edayannur in 2018.
Thomas, who has cut his links with the CPM after refusing to renew his party membership, invited Jayarajan for a detailed debate, especially after the latter termed him as a 'fallen revolutionary'. A couple of days ago, Jayarajan asked Thomas to stop denigrating the party in public as he had been a member of the party in the past. He also alleged that Thomas was being celebrated by the media as he took a position against the party.
Thomas responded to the claims by inviting Jayarajan for a detailed discussion regarding the party’s various activities and underworld connections. As the party has been fighting hard to steady the ship following the defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, many leaders in the district are of the opinion that the controversy was untimely and unnecessary. They are of the opinion that it would not do any good for the party to discuss about the underworld connections at this time.
Provoked by Jayarajan’s comments and Thillankery’s veiled threat that the party knows how to stop Thomas from indulging in anti party statements, Thomas posted on Meta that the operations at Onchiyam (TP Chandrasekharan murder) and Edayannur (SP Shuhaib murder) were distortions not revolutions.
"It is not unsurprising that, leaders of gold smuggling and quotation gangs have come out with life threats when I had invited P Jayarajan for a debate," said Manu in his Meta post, adding, "One has to die, anyway. I would prefer it while fighting holding my head high. Those who indulge in money and gold received through the destruction of others’ tears and dreams would not be able to understand it."
"The leaders should clarify that, they had assigned anyone to carry out life threats against me in the name of party. You can kill people, but the tongues will not remain silent tomorrow. So, fake soldiers... I am not afraid," he said.
Meanwhile, BJP National Vice President AP Abdullakkutty has come out inviting Thomas to join his party. The BJP has offered to help Thomas in his battle against gold mafia and quotation gangs of Kannur. "No other party can support Manu in his fight against these forces," Abdullakkutty said.
At the same time, it is said that many leaders in the district wants the controversy to end. Leaders are reportedly miffed with Jayarajan’s untimely entry, causing embarrassment for the party especially since party district secretary MV Jayarajan had officially sealed the issue before the media saying that Thomas was not ousted and the inclusion of a new member to the district committee was only a technical process based on the constitution of the party. The party leadership also felt that the unnecessary social media war has given the Opposition yet another opportunity to lash out at the party in the assembly.