Payyannur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan has launched a pointed public attack on former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership of deflecting responsibility for the party's electoral loss in Payyannur — one of the CPM's historically strongest bastions in Kannur district.

What Triggered the Confrontation

The confrontation escalated after Vijayan addressed a political explanation meeting in Payyannur on Saturday, using the platform to criticise Kunhikrishnan's conduct and political positions. In response, Kunhikrishnan took to Facebook on Sunday, alleging that speeches by Vijayan and senior CPM leader K.K. Ragesh effectively shifted blame for the defeat onto ordinary party workers and voters, absolving both the party leadership and its candidate of any accountability.

The Historical Parallel Kunhikrishnan Invoked

In a pointed historical reference, Kunhikrishnan cited veteran communist leader K. Damodaran, who reportedly refused to justify the police firing on protesting Hindustan Cashew Factory workers at Chandanathope in Kollam during the EMS government in 1957, despite being directed by the party to do so. The invocation was widely read as a rebuke of what Kunhikrishnan sees as the current leadership's abandonment of communist ethical principles.

Background: Why Kunhikrishnan Broke Ranks

Kunhikrishnan, a former member of the CPM Kannur district committee, contested the recent assembly election as a United Democratic Front (UDF)-backed independent after raising allegations of financial irregularities against former MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan. The accusations included misappropriation of funds collected for the family of slain CPM worker C.V. Dhanraj, election fund misuse, and irregularities in contributions for constructing a party office. The CPM rejected the allegations and re-fielded Madhusoodanan — who went on to win the seat.

Vijayan's Counterattack and the CPM's Position

At Saturday's meeting, Vijayan accused Kunhikrishnan of manufacturing public suspicion, weakening the organisation from within, and building ties with political opponents. He described the Payyannur MLA as an 'axe in the hands of the party's enemies.' The CPM has disputed all allegations raised by Kunhikrishnan, and the party leadership has not indicated any willingness to revisit its official position on the Payyannur outcome.

Kunhikrishnan's Broader Indictment

Citing a CPM Central Committee report, Kunhikrishnan claimed the document had itself identified organisational failings — including alleged arrogance, corruption, nepotism, and extravagant lifestyles among leaders — and had acknowledged lapses in candidate selection in both Payyannur and Taliparamba. He also questioned the management of party funds in Payyannur, claiming accounts required repeated audits following delays and discrepancies, and said he disclosed the details only after completing an audit ordered by the party itself. Kunhikrishnan additionally targeted Vijayan over the CMRL case, alleging an inadequate response to reports and purported evidence that have emerged. He maintained that his political commitment was to communist ideology and truth rather than to any individual leader, and asserted that threats or attempts to isolate him would not silence his criticism. The dispute signals a deepening internal fracture within the CPM's Kannur unit — a development that opposition parties are likely to exploit as the state moves closer to the next electoral cycle.