Thiruvananthapuram: Rifts are deepening within the Congress party amidst allegations that the UDF leadership is displaying reluctance to act against Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL–Exalogic case. Highlighting the arduous battle he fought despite facing dire threats, Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan reminded the party that the electorate voted the UDF into power to take an uncompromising stance against such injustices. Kuzhalnadan questioned whether the party should forget all past grievances, pointing out actions like the filing of a rape case against Oommen Chandy.

Other Congress MLAs including C.R. Mahesh and Chandy Oommen, alongside party spokesperson Jinto John, have echoed similar stances in recent days.

Mathew Kuzhalnadan was the first to challenge the UDF leadership's stance, arguing that a case should have been registered against Pinarayi Vijayan based on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) report. Speaking emotionally at a public meeting in Muvattupuzha recently, Kuzhalnadan expanded on the matter.

"The battle over the 'monthly quota' (Masappadi) case was far from easy; it was fraught with challenges. There are things I have never disclosed to anyone until now. We can handle direct political attacks—we are politicians, and we grew up seeing these things. However, after I initiated this fight, constant threat calls were made to my elderly mother, my wife, and my wife's family. Many cautioned me to be careful. That has been my experience so far, because Kerala has witnessed how they have treated anyone who dared raise a finger against them in the past. I faced everything and pushed this fight forward, enduring immense criticism and ridicule. Ultimately, by God's grace, the Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance to register a case against Pinarayi Vijayan. Naturally, shouldn't I feel motivated?" Kuzhalnadan asked.

"While leader Vayalar Ravi guided me into politics, during my Law College days whenever I faced crises, it was K. Sudhakaran—the brave leader of Congress—who strengthened and stood by me. He used to say that if we compromise, they will walk all over us. The Communist Party brutally eliminated 22 people around him. That is why he never compromises with them. How many Congress workers' lives and blood have they taken? Most recently Kripesh and Sharath Lal—can we ever forget them? Don't you remember whose dark hands were behind creating so many martyrs? It is difficult and painful to feel any empathy towards Pinarayi Vijayan," said Kuzhalnadan.

He further reminded the gathering of the decade-long crackdowns where KSU and Youth Congress workers endured brutal police action. "Pinarayi Vijayan was the person who threw Oommen Chandy to the CBI. Today, that same Pinarayi Vijayan claims that if you register a case based on ED reports, you are siding with the BJP," Kuzhalnadan noted.

"Should we forget all this? Can anyone tell this party and its cadres to forget everything? This is not a personal fight against Pinarayi Vijayan; it is a political battle. It is a fight to uphold the self-respect of the Congress party—a battle fought by determined and spirited Congress cadres. The electorate voted a government into power—granting us 102 MLAs—not to forego opportunities to challenge those who shed our workers' blood, but to demand accountability at the top of our voice. The public chose this government to adopt an uncompromising stance against such rampant injustice," Kuzhalnadan stated.