Alappuzha (Kerala), March 21 (NationPress) A new political dispute has surfaced in Kerala following a public disagreement between G. Sudhakaran, an Independent candidate supported by the Congress-led UDF from Ambalappuzha and a former CPI(M) leader, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. This altercation has sparked a heated exchange as the Assembly elections approach.

Sudhakaran asserted that the Chief Minister has never reached out to him, revealing that Vijayan’s contact is stored in his phone as “CM” and no calls were received from him.

The seasoned four-time CPI(M) legislator and former Cabinet Minister stated that about two weeks prior to Vijayan’s remarks, the Chief Minister had expressed interest in meeting him during a visit to Alappuzha, yet no further communication followed.

Sudhakaran's denial comes after Vijayan claimed in an interview that he had tried to reach out to Sudhakaran on three occasions. Dismissing any notion of neglect towards the senior leader, the Chief Minister suggested that Sudhakaran’s feelings of being overlooked were merely subjective.

Vijayan elaborated on his attempts, noting that the first call ended with an engaged tone, while the subsequent two were not answered. “After the third attempt, it seemed he was intentionally avoiding my calls,” he remarked, adding that he later contacted district secretary Nasser for help in establishing communication.

Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan expressed his inclination to side with Sudhakaran. “For many years, even during our opposing stances, we have always respected him. I trust his account,” Satheesan stated.

The Chief Minister also aimed to clarify Sudhakaran’s withdrawal from significant positions, emphasizing that such changes are based on standard criteria like age limits and should not be viewed as marginalization. He acknowledged Sudhakaran as one of the party's most esteemed leaders, asserting that he had received appropriate recognition throughout his career, including organizational backing in Alappuzha and dedicated resources at the party office.

With both parties firmly holding their positions, this incident has introduced a new dimension to the unfolding electoral contest in Kerala.

Sudhakaran plans to submit his nomination on Saturday and will engage in a roadshow following the filing.

The CPI(M) is also grappling with unprecedented internal dissent, as former legislators Aiya S. Potti and P.K. Sasi have joined the Congress and are running against Left candidates. In Kannur district, veteran party members V. Kunjikrishnan (Payyannur) and T.P. Govindan (Taliparamba) are competing with UDF backing, while three-time former CPI(M) legislator S. Rajendran is the BJP candidate from Devikulam in Idukki district.