Kochi/Kannur, Jan 30 (NationPress) V. Kunjikrishnan, a prominent CPI(M) leader ousted from the party recently, has filed a petition with the Kerala High Court on Friday, requesting police protection for his upcoming book launch event.

During a press briefing at his residence in Payyannur, he emphasized that the police security he seeks is specifically for the book release function scheduled for Wednesday.

“I want to stress that the protection I am requesting is solely for the book launch on Wednesday. I want to ensure that the event goes smoothly without any disruptions. I approached the Court for a more definitive resolution,” Kunjikrishnan stated.

This legal action arrives just days before the anticipated release of his book, which contains serious accusations against the CPI(M) leadership and highlights what he perceives as the party’s ideological decline.

Kunjikrishnan faced expulsion on Monday from the CPI(M) after he publicly repeated claims regarding financial misconduct associated with the Dhanaraj Martyrs’ Fund, igniting significant controversy within the party's Kannur district.

In making the announcement, CPI(M) Kannur District Secretary K.K. Ragesh condemned him for supposedly betraying the party and described him as a “tool in the hands of party adversaries,” particularly for giving interviews to a private television channel prior to the elections.

The party has asserted that Kunjikrishnan’s allegations were previously investigated and resolved internally in April 2022, characterizing his actions as driven by personal vendetta against Payyannur MLA and district secretariat member T.I. Madhusoodanan.

Ragesh mentioned that an internal inquiry concluded the allegations were unfounded and asserted that Madhusoodanan had no role in managing the funds in question.

While acknowledging certain mistakes such as typographical errors and absent receipt books, the party maintained that there was no financial loss, and disciplinary actions had already been implemented.

In stark contrast, Kunjikrishnan’s book, titled 'Nethruthvathe Anikal Thiruthanam (The Cadre Must Correct the Leadership),' delivers a harsh critique of the CPI(M)'s state leadership.

The book claims that party officials have become beneficiaries of crony capitalism, misuse organizational principles to protect those accused of grave misconduct, and that the CPI(M) has devolved into a conventional electoral party devoid of its communist essence.

It focuses considerably on Payyannur, alleging that factionalism emerged after Madhusoodanan's appointment as area secretary in 2007, accusing him of adopting a “bourgeois political style” that fosters dependency and stifles dissent.

Financial discrepancies, including alleged exploitation of martyrs’ fund collections, are elaborated with specific accounts and data, alongside criticism regarding the leadership's inaction.

Shortly following his expulsion, Kunjikrishnan, 74, remarked that there was “nothing novel” in the party's defense and reiterated that he went public only after numerous internal appeals were ignored.

He has dismissed the possibility of joining another political party.

As the book release approaches and political tensions escalate, the request for protection from the High Court adds a new layer to a controversy that has unearthed significant rifts within the CPI(M) in Kannur.

Additionally, the party is under pressure with upcoming assembly elections on the horizon, particularly as it grapples with defending the fallout from the December 2025 local body election setback.