Kozhikode: MP K Muraleedharan has severely criticised the Congress leadership for failing to attract new voters in the just concluded Puthuppally byelection. The veteran leader called for more organised efforts to improve the party’s performance in the upcoming parliament election.

“UDF has managed to secure an unprecedented victory in Puthuppally. The growing discontentment over the CPM rule and the waves of emotions post the death of beloved Oommen Chandy put the party on the top of the table. All efforts were centred on Puthuppally helping Chandy Oommen gain a huge lead over the other candidates. However, a more organised effort will be essential for improving the party’s prospects in Lok Sabha elections 2024,” said Muraleedharan.  

“People in Kerala are fed up living under the draconian rule of the CPM government. The infatuation for BJP continues in the CPM ranks. The communist party’s care and concern for the saffron brigade was very much visible in the Puthuppally bypoll as well,” said the Congress MP.

“The state government even failed to distribute the allotted quota of six lakh Onam kits among the beneficiaries on time. That was extremely disgraceful. Moving ahead, CPM MLA AC Moideen is on the verge of getting arrested in the Karuvannur bank scam, the ED is zeroing in on the accused in the case. With all this, CM Pinarayi’s claims of a corruption-free government is falling apart like a pack of cards” he concluded.

Muraleedharan also made it clear that he will not be contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.