Congress, BJP trade allegations after party offices attacked in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress and BJP traded allegations on Wednesday after two Congress offices were attacked in Thiruvananthapuram district, further escalating tensions between the parties following recent protests involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Kerala ministers.

The Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) office was damaged in stone-pelting, while the Congress mandalam committee office at Anavoor near Neyyattinkara was set on fire during the night. Police have begun investigating the incidents and are examining CCTV footage to identify those responsible.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph alleged that BJP workers were behind the attacks. He also claimed that the party's district committee secretary was threatened at his residence and that other Congress leaders in the Neyyattinkara area had also received threats.

Joseph said the incidents followed a confrontation between Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha workers during a protest against Sports Minister O J Janeesh's vehicle a day earlier.

He alleged that the attacks were carried out with the knowledge and support of the BJP leadership in the state and demanded strict police action against those responsible.

The Congress later held a protest march in Thiruvananthapuram. During the march, some party workers damaged a flagpole and notice board belonging to an organisation associated with the BJP.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, however, made a counter-allegation, claiming that BJP's Thiruvananthapuram South district president Mookkampalamoodu Biju was attacked by Congress workers.

In a post on X, Chandrasekhar alleged that the incident was evidence of deteriorating law and order in Kerala and demanded immediate police action against those who attacked Biju.

The BJP has linked the recent protests to the black-flag demonstration staged by Youth Congress workers against Amit Shah during his visit to Kerala. The BJP and Yuva Morcha have described that incident as a security breach and demanded action against those involved.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who visited the DCC office, condemned the attacks and said the police would take action against those responsible, regardless of their political affiliation.

"The police is investigating the matter by going through the CCTV footage to identify the culprits," Chennithala said.

He said people had the right to protest but warned that violence and destruction would not be permitted.

At the Anavoor office, a local Congress leader alleged that witnesses saw a BJP worker pour a liquid over posters of Chief Minister V D Satheesan and former chief minister Oommen Chandy before setting them on fire. The fire was brought under control by local residents and did not spread to the office, he claimed.