What Led to the Tragic Suicide of Kerala BJP Councilor K. Anilkumar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- K. Anilkumar was a prominent BJP councilor in Thiruvananthapuram.
- He faced significant financial challenges and felt abandoned.
- The cooperative he led had debts of Rs 6 crore.
- His suicide note criticized the BJP leadership for lack of support.
- This incident has major implications for the upcoming local elections.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 20 (NationPress) K. Anilkumar, the councilor for the Thirumala ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and a member of the BJP, was tragically discovered hanging in his office this past Saturday.
A note found at the scene indicated that he felt isolated and overwhelmed by a significant financial crisis, despite having extended help to many throughout his life.
Anilkumar, also the president of the Valyashala Farm Tour Society, disclosed that the cooperative was burdened with debts amounting to approximately Rs 6 crore, yet it had assets valued at Rs 11 crore.
In his note, he requested that these assets be utilized to settle the debts owed to investors and asked that his family not be held accountable.
He expressed gratitude to those who had supported him during tough times.
The note also included remarks directed at the BJP leadership, claiming that they did not offer him support amid the financial turmoil faced by the society.
He emphasized that neither he nor his family had misappropriated any funds for personal use.
An influential figure in the BJP within the capital, Anilkumar had spearheaded numerous protests at both the corporation and district levels.
The political community is reeling from his unexpected demise.
However, BJP city president Karamana Jayan acknowledged that the cooperative was facing challenges but refuted claims of any mismanagement, asserting that the party was supportive of Anilkumar.
In the aftermath, local BJP supporters confronted media representatives who arrived to cover the incident, leading to a chaotic scene as tensions flared.
Media personnel faced hostility, with their equipment targeted by BJP supporters.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through BJP leadership, especially considering that the BJP is the main opposition party within the 101-member Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. With local body elections on the horizon, the state leadership is hopeful about securing control over the corporation.
The BJP has been consistently accusing the ruling CPI-M in the corporation of engaging in widespread corrupt practices.