Kannur (Kerala), March 21 CPI(M) dissident V Kunhikrishnan said on Saturday that he had to dismantle his election office after party members allegedly threatened the landowner in Payyannur.
Kunhikrishnan is contesting from the CPI(M) stronghold of Payyannur after defecting from the party, alleging that sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan had misappropriated party funds.
The UDF has decided not to field any candidate in the Payyannur constituency in support of Kunhikrishnan in the upcoming assembly election.
Speaking to reporters, Kunhikrishnan said he had set up a temporary office for his election campaign but had to remove it after party members threatened the landowner.
"People need to seriously consider where the state is heading with such actions. Elections are an opportunity for the public to exercise their democratic rights. But there is an attempt to lead the state in an undemocratic and fascist way," he said.
He alleged that a "mafia group" was leading the election activities of the CPI(M)-led LDF in Payyannur.
Kunhikrishnan also said that the CPI(M) leadership has not given a proper response to the corruption allegations he raised against the sitting MLA.
He said such threats show that the party has no answer to his questions and urged the leadership to refrain from such actions.
Meanwhile, T K Govindan, another CPI(M) defector contesting from Taliparamba against P K Shyamala, wife of party state secretary M V Govindan, said he would contest as an independent and not on a Congress symbol.
Govindan met KPCC president Sunny Joseph on Saturday.
"The Congress leaders did not place any demands and asked me to go ahead with my stand. They promised their full support in the election," he said.
He said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, calling his defection a betrayal, was natural as he had left the party.
Govindan said he was not planning a flashy campaign and that people know him well.
"They know the ideas I am placing before them and they trust me," he said.
The Congress-led UDF is supporting four CPI(M) defectors -- G Sudhakaran in Ambalappuzha, P K Sasi in Ottapalam, along with Kunhikrishnan and Govindan.
On the other hand, A Suresh, a staff member of former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, and former CPI(M) MLA P Aisha Potty are contesting as Congress candidates from Malampuzha and Kottarakkara respectively in the April 9 polls.