Kerala: Leaders’ suicides put Congress's Wayanad unit on backfoot; CPM ups pressure

KOZHIKODE: Wayanad Congress unit has been on the defensive after back-to-back suicides by party leaders, the latest being local leader Jose Nelledam after former DCC treasurer N M Vijayan's suicide in Dec 2024. Incidentally, Vijayan's daughter-in-law Padmaja Vijesh attempted suicide on Saturday citing apathy by Congress. CPM tried to seize the moment and reached out to the victims' kin.CPM state secretariat member M V Jayarajan visited Padmaja and Nelledam's kin on Sunday and said Congress in Wayanad was not a democratic party but a party of murderers. "Congress didn't do justice to Jose, leading him to committing suicide. After N M Vijayan's suicide, Congress had promised to protect his family by taking over their liabilities. Its committee submitted a report and consequently an agreement was reached. Kalpetta MLA T Siddique had specified the agreement terms. Now, KPCC president says that there was no agreement," Jayarajan said.Padmaja was found with her wrist cut at her house on Saturday. In a purported suicide note, she wrote except for giving Rs 20 lakhs, Congress had done nothing even as their liabilities was crores of rupees. CPM district secretary K Rafeek said his party was ready to settle Vijayan's kin's liabilities if Congress reneged on its commitments.Nelledam, a Congress ward member of Mullankolly panchayat, was found dead in a pond near his house on Friday. He reportedly consumed poison and slit his wrists before jumping into the pond. Nelledam had been facing allegations in connection with the arrest of fellow party leader Thankachan Kannattumalayil in a fabricated case after liquor and explosives were seized from the latter's car porch. Those close to Nelledam said he was a victim of party factionalism. Nelledam had alleged a mass campaign of projecting him as a corrupt person and a conspirator.CPM leader C K Saseendran said the incidents showed that Congress leadership wasn't showing any humanity towards their own functionaries or their families. "The district saw suicides of five Congress leaders and activists. Sulthan Bathery MLA I C Balakrishnan hasn't even visited Jose's house. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi too didn't visit Jose's house or Padmaja," he said.Meanwhile, Siddique said as per party's directives, steps were taken to resolve Vijayan's family's financial liabilities. The family was given Rs 20 lakh for livelihood support and Congress had taken over a private loan of over Rs 20 lakh. Talks are also underway with Sultan Bathery Urban Bank to settle another loan, he said. Siddique added that he intervened and covered the hospital expenses of Vijayan's son, Vijesh.