G Sudhakaran loses cool over question on MLA U Pratibha

Kottayam: Former CPM leader G Sudhakaran, who won from Ambalappuzha assembly constituency as an independent candidate with UDF backing, lost his cool while interacting with reporters at his residence on Thursday. The incident took place when his response was sought to former MLA U Pratibha's claims regarding her defeat. Sudhakaran told reporters not to ask irrelevant questions to him and mention unnecessary names. He also told reporters not to "act too smart" because they are carrying the channel microphone. When the question was repeated, he told the reporter not to ask ‘third-rate' questions. Sudhakaran's wife then intervened and told him that the reporter who asked the question was her student. Meanwhile, regarding the selection of the chief minister, Sudhakaran said, "It is not up to me; Congress will decide. I am not Congress. I am someone who won with their support." After his victory in the election, Sudhakaran on Wednesday paid tribute at the martyr's memorial of his brother G Bhuvaneswaran at Charummoodu in Alappuzha. On Thursday, Sudhakaran also slammed Left leaders for targeting him over his late brother. Bhuvaneswaran, an SFI activist, was killed in campus violence at NSS College, Pandalam, in 1977. Earlier, local CPM leaders had alleged that Sudhakaran had ‘betrayed' his brother by contesting against CPM as a UDF-backed independent candidate. The issue had also been raised during the election campaign. Responding to reporters, Sudhakaran reacted sharply to the criticism. "What right do they have to say this? Should they say such things in the name of Bhuvaneswaran? If they criticize people for paying tribute to a martyr, who are they trying to fool?" he asked. He claimed that CPM lost votes by raising the issue of Bhuvaneswaran during the election campaign. Sudhakaran also said the martyr's memorial was built by the family and not by the party, and added that the land for it was provided by the Cashew Workers' Union. "If they play politics in the name of Bhuvaneswaran, the existence of the party in Mavelikara will be damaged. Even now, the party's votes have come down from 35,000 to 15,000," he claimed. Sudhakaran also reacted angrily to reporters for repeatedly raising questions about Bhuvaneswaran.