Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM has admitted fault in the incident of setting up a stage by encroaching on the road for the area conference in Vanchiyoor. CPM district secretary V. Joy said that issues arose related to setting up the stage for the closing ceremony of the Vanchiyoor area conference and that it should not have been done.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi News, Joy said, "It was wrong to block the road and set up the stage. We will try our best to avoid such incidents in the future." He explained that the stage was set up considering vehicle restrictions near the General Hospital due to ongoing road works. However, the incident raised questions as the conference completely blocked a main road, despite restrictions on conducting meetings and conferences even on roadsides.

The Kerala High Court recently criticised the government and police over the Vanchiyoor stage controversy while hearing a petition filed by Maradu resident Prakash. The court questioned what actions the state government intends to take against encroachments on public roads for meetings and conferences, sayiing that this incident warranted contempt of court proceedings. The court also sought clarification on whether the police had registered a case in this matter.

The police have filed a suo-motu case against the CPM Vanchiyoor area committee for blocking the road for the conference. The charges include unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic and misbehavior towards the police. The case has been filed against 500 identifiable persons. The police clarified that the CPM had only obtained permission to hold the event, not to set up a stage on the public road.

The stage for the conference was set up on the road near the Vanchiyoor court, causing traffic congestion on the conference day, affecting ambulances and school vehicles.