Kottayam, April 7 – With just 48 hours remaining before the voting began, a shocking incident has rocked the political landscape of Kerala. A farmer was found hanging inside the local CPI committee office in Thalayazham, Vaikom, a constituency represented by the party.
The deceased, Chellappan Pulikkasheri, a local farmer and agricultural researcher, had previously made serious accusations against party leaders, making his death particularly controversial.
Chellappan had publicly accused CPI district and local leaders of destroying his livelihood and subjecting him to persistent harassment.
Through social media posts and a video, he had criticised the party's policies and the alleged actions of certain leaders.
He claimed that the crops he had painstakingly cultivated and other sources of income were wiped out due to the intervention of influential party officials.
Chellappan also alleged that despite repeated attempts, he was denied permission to meet the Agriculture Minister and was warned that he would face retaliation after the elections.
Friends and relatives say Chellappan had been under severe mental distress, having complained that he had been betrayed by leaders he had trusted and supported.
Preliminary indications suggest that this distress may have driven him to take the extreme step inside the party office itself, a move that has further amplified the political fallout.
The incident triggered widespread outrage, with a large crowd gathering outside the CPI office.
Angry locals and relatives refused to allow the body to be removed until the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) reached the spot.
Police presence has been increased, but proceedings were delayed due to public anger and protests.
Locals have demanded stringent action against those they hold responsible, while various organizations are preparing for protests seeking a high-level investigation and immediate arrests.
The death has put the CPI and the ruling LDF government in a difficult position, especially given Vaikom's political significance as its stronghold.
Opposition parties have seized on the issue, alleging that the incident exposes how party leadership treats its own grassroots workers and farmers.