CPM moves in as Congress crumbles in Wayanad, offers aid to Vijayans kin

KALPETTA: With Congress caught up in its own storm in Wayanad, the CPM seems to be capitalising the formers silence over the string of tragedies that have rattled the UDF stronghold. CPM state secretariat member M V Jayarajan on Sunday visited the families of both N M Vijayan and Jose Nalladam two Congress leaders who died by suicide amid allegations of neglect by their own party while the Congress leaders were conspicuously absent. Offering financial support to Vijayans daughter-in-law Padmaja, who tried to die by suicide last day, Jayarajan said, The CPM is ready to take on the financial burden of Vijayans family. If the family requests it, we will consider it. Our leaders are in touch with them. Jayarajan turned his fire on Priyanka Gandhi, accusing her of indifference. She didnt have to fly in from Delhi; she was in Wayanad for the past two days, but never visited Joses house. The district Congress leaders might have stopped her from listening to Vijayans family. If the Congress openly says it cannot help Vijayans family, the CPM is ready to step in, he said. The intervention sharpens the CPMs narrative that Congress has abandoned its cadre in Wayanad. By placing itself at the side of the grieving families, the Left is positioning itself to occupy the moral ground the Congress has ceded. For the past few days, the CPM district leadership has been turning up the heat on Congress in Wayanad, with district secretary K Rafeeq directly targeting DCC president N D Appachan, I C Balakrishnan, and T Siddique. Meanwhile, DYFI workers stormed Siddiques MLA office in Kalpetta, attempting to shut it down.