What Memorial is Being Unveiled for T.P. Chandrasekharan on His 13th Death Anniversary?

Kozhikode, May 1 (NationPress) On the brink of the 13th death anniversary of T.P. Chandrasekharan, a figure still labeled a renegade by the senior leadership of the CPI(M) in Kerala, a significant memorial is scheduled for unveiling at the very site of his brutal murder by CPI(M) affiliates.

Chandrasekharan was viciously attacked 51 times in 2012, a political assassination that sent shockwaves across Kerala.

His widow, K.K. Rema, a passionate leader who once aligned with the CPI(M), has tirelessly propagated his principles since his untimely death.

Now serving as a first-time MLA after her election in 2021 with backing from the Congress-led UDF, Rema stood before the new memorial on Thursday, describing it as “a dream realized.”

“We will inaugurate this modern memorial in the upcoming days. This is a dream come true for all who cherish Chandrasekharan,” she expressed.

The memorial occupies a three-cent plot of land, precisely where Chandrasekharan was murdered.

“We acquired this land to establish the memorial. Previously, we erected a small structure here, but it faced attacks nearly five times,” Rema noted, mentioning that the site is currently under police protection.

The newly constructed memorial will feature the motorcycle Chandrasekharan was riding during the attack. “There will also be a ‘living’ museum highlighting his speeches, personal items, and various aspects of his life, all curated with cutting-edge AI technology,” she added.

On May 4, 2012, Chandrasekharan, aged 51, was ambushed by assailants in a vehicle who began their attack by throwing crude bombs at him. After he fell from his motorcycle, they fatally assaulted him. His body remained in a pool of blood for over half an hour before police transported him to a hospital.

At that time, the Congress-led government under Oommen Chandy was in control. The police swiftly identified and apprehended the suspects.

In July 2012, several main perpetrators were arrested, and in January 2014, a local Kozhikode court convicted 12 individuals, including three notable CPI(M) leaders from the region.

The murder incited a political uproar in Kerala. Many believe the catalyst was Chandrasekharan's decision in 2008 to part ways with the CPI(M) and establish his own party, the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP).

His rising popularity in his hometown of Onchiyam and the RMP's electoral successes there reportedly incensed the CPI(M), for whom Onchiyam is of profound historical and ideological importance.

Chandrasekharan was widely respected for his dynamic oratory skills and commanding presence—qualities that posed a threat to the party he once belonged to.

Since his passing, Rema has emerged as a staunch critic of the CPI(M), particularly targeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whom she accuses of being aware of the conspiracy surrounding her husband’s murder.