Alappuzha (Kerala), April 10 The CPI(M) intensified its attack on rebel leader G Sudhakaran on Friday, with Minister Saji Cherian alleging that the veteran leader had helped the Congress defeat the party’s candidate in Alappuzha during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Sudhakaran, who did not renew his CPI(M) membership early this year, contested the Ambalapuzha seat as an Independent backed by the UDF.
Cherian alleged that Sudhakaran had "stooped to the lowest level" in his conduct.
He said that when leaders like M V Raghavan and K R Gouri Amma left the party in the past, they did not attack the CPI(M), as they remained "communists at heart" and maintained gratitude towards the party.
He alleged that Sudhakaran, on the other hand, had betrayed the party.
"Sudhakaran reached an agreement with K C Venugopal around one-and-a-half years ago. After realizing that he would not get a seat, he switched sides within 24 hours," he said.
Cherian said that normally, politicians take time to be accommodated in rival fronts after leaving a party.
"After announcing that he would not renew his party membership, within 24 hours, the AICC extended support to him. Who is the AICC secretary? I believe it is a return favour for supporting Venugopal during the Lok Sabha election to defeat our candidate A M Ariff," he alleged.
He further claimed that instead of explaining his political stand, Sudhakaran resorted to personal attacks against CPI(M) leaders during the campaign.
"He targeted me by calling me a mafia. I have donated my entire wealth. Can he do the same?" Cherian said.
He also alleged that Sudhakaran had targeted party leader C S Sujatha and other MLAs in Alappuzha, which, according to him, would affect the latter’s electoral prospects.
"We are not like him, who says anything. We have a clear political vision and stand," he said.
Cherian further alleged that during the Lok Sabha elections, internal party matters in Alappuzha were leaked by Sudhakaran to the opposition.
"Congress leaders will use Sudhakaran and later dump him. They used him during the parliamentary elections to defeat us and gain information. In the Assembly election, he said what they wanted," he said.
He claimed that no CPI(M) sympathiser in Ambalapuzha had supported Sudhakaran.
Cherian also said that Sudhakaran would face the consequences of his actions and that no one would trust him.
"I can say that we will secure a massive majority in Ambalapuzha. If he had any love for the organisation, he would not have made such statements," he said.
Cherian also referred to Sudhakaran’s brother, G Bhuvaneswaran, who is considered a party martyr.
"He has now gone to the extent of claiming that the SFI killed his brother. Earlier, Sudhakaran himself had said that he was killed by the KSU. Sudhakaran was an SFI office-bearer then, when his brother was killed. Why did he not say this earlier?" he alleged.
Bhuvaneswaran, Sudhakaran’s younger brother, was killed in an attack at Pandalam NSS College in December 1977.
There was no immediate response from Sudhakaran to these fresh allegations made by his former party colleague.
