Kannur: V. Kunjikrishnan, a district committee member who accused Payyanur MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan of embezzling around one crore rupees, including funds from the Dhanaraj martyr fund, has been expelled from the CPM. Kannur District Secretary K.K. Ragesh announced that Kunjikrishnan had been removed from the party’s primary membership following a district committee meeting on Monday.

Kunjikrishnan had alleged that financial misappropriation occurred under the leadership of Madhusoodanan, who is also a member of the district secretariat, involving the martyr fund, the Payyanur area committee office construction fund, and the 2021 election fund.

‘A tool of the party’s enemies’

Ragesh stated that Kunjikrishnan had become a tool of the party’s enemies and was spreading falsehoods. “He is raising issues that the party had already decided upon and has leaked information to betray the party from within,” Ragesh said. He added that the recent accusations were motivated by a specific agenda, pointing to the upcoming elections and describing the accusations as an act of revenge against Madhusoodanan.

According to Ragesh, the party’s audit report had been thoroughly examined, and no financial losses or personal embezzlement were found. He criticised Kunjikrishnan for publicising matters that the party had already investigated and resolved, accusing him of becoming a tool for those seeking to undermine the party. The district secretariat had concluded that Kunjikrishnan had committed a grave act of indiscipline by raising the issue publicly.

What do the allegations entail?

Kunjikrishnan’s allegations included purported irregularities in the accounts of the 2011 assembly elections involving lakhs of rupees, and manipulation of funds collected in the name of Dhanaraj, who was killed on 11 July 2016. Kunjikrishnan said he was compelled to speak publicly after the party failed to take action despite repeated complaints. He also stated that he had anticipated this disciplinary action and had no intention of joining any other political party.

Decades of party membership

The 74-year-old Kunjikrishnan has been associated with the party for over 50 years. He joined the CPM at the age of 24 and rose through the ranks, serving as branch secretary and Payyanur area secretary before becoming a district committee member. He had been removed from the position of area secretary during disciplinary action related to factionalism in Payyanur. After withdrawing from active politics for a period, he later returned under pressure and became an invitee to the district committee, eventually attaining district committee membership at the last conference.