Kottayam/Palakkad (Kerala), February 17 Two well-known figures who were previously associated with the CPI(M) were seen sharing the stage with the Congress in Kerala on Tuesday, a development that has drawn attention ahead of the crucial Assembly elections.
Actor and former chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, Prem Kumar, appeared on a Congress stage at the KPCC's Samskara Utsav 2026, held at the Indoor Stadium in Nagampadam, Kottayam.
Kumar attended the programme as the chief guest in the absence of AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, who was scheduled to inaugurate the event.
In his speech, Kumar said he had come for a cultural programme, not a political meeting.
Emphasizing the importance of creative freedom, he said an artist must have "unlimited freedom" and warned that the voices of writers and artists were increasingly being silenced.
He said that art is the strongest form of expression, and suppressing it is a sign of fascism. He added that theatre artists today often struggle to present ideas they truly believe in.
Kumar had recently accused the state government of "double standards" in connection with his removal from the post of chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
Meanwhile, in Palakkad, A Suresh, former personal assistant to veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan, joined the Congress-led Puthuyuga Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan.
Satheesan welcomed Suresh to the stage during the concluding event of the Palakkad district yatra.
Speaking emotionally, Suresh said the pressure he faced over the years was intense and claimed the Left had moved away from its core values.
He said that the pain he carried for 13 years had ended.
Suresh, who was expelled from the CPI(M) years ago for alleged anti-party activities, had continued as a supporter of the Marxist party.