Kollam protest goof-up: SFI pulls down Kodiyeri’s flex; Youth Congress puts up new one

Kollam: A flex commemorating CPM stalwart Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was torn down by a worker of the party’s own student outfit SFI during a protest march here on Thursday.

The incident occurred during a protest march from SN College over the Thiruvananthapuram clash episode, with SFI person pulling down the memorial flex in an apparent goof-up amid the demonstration.

The SFI march began from SN College. During the procession, one SFI worker ran towards a flex installed by the roadside and pulled it down.

The flex was put up to mark the fourth death anniversary of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, a senior CPM leader and former state party secretary.

Visuals from the incident also capture people asking, "Was it Kodiyeri's flex that was torn down? Was it a mistake?"

Following the incident, more SFI workers reached the spot and placed the remains of the damaged flex in a nearby pit.

Two flexes

A new flex was later installed at the same location by SFI workers. The incident then drew a response from the rival Congress-affiliated youth outfit, Youth Congress. A new Kodiyeri Balakrishnan memorial flex was installed in the area under the leadership of Youth Congress leader Kuruvila Joseph.

The Youth Congress flex was put up with a caption stating that the organisation had restored the Kodiyeri Balakrishnan death anniversary flex destroyed by SFI workers.