Political tensions escalate in Kerala’s Ambalappuzha as G. Sudhakaran targets CPI(M), Pinarayi Vijayan in provocative speech

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The charged political atmosphere of Ambalappuzha in Alappuzha district, which witnessed an acrimonious election between the communist veteran and CPI(M) rebel G. Sudhakaran MLA and the CPI(M), continues to boil over, with the two sides exchanging sharp barbs months after the polls.

The latest round of hostilities was triggered by a speech delivered by Mr. Sudhakaran while inaugurating his new MLA office in Ambalappuzha on Sunday, where he launched a scathing attack on the CPI(M) and its leadership, particularly former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

In his address, Mr. Sudhakaran likened Mr. Vijayan to a “drenched chicken” in the Assembly, implying that the former Chief Minister and current Opposition Leader appeared subdued and ineffective. He also took a swipe at former Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal for remaining silent in the House. “Shouldn’t there be at least one person who knows how to respond? There is no one to point out what is wrong. The picture of the Opposition in the Assembly is pathetic,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

Recalling an earlier speech by Mr. Vijayan accusing him of stepping into the “mud pit” of the Congress in Ambalappuzha, Mr. Sudhakaran argued that the CPI(M) itself survives outside Kerala only with the support of the Congress. Claiming that the party had lost its political credibility, he said it was unlikely to recover in the near future and described the present period as “the golden era of the Congress in Kerala.”

The CPI(M), however, responded sharply to the remarks. H. Salam, a member of the party’s district secretariat who had contested against Mr. Dudhakaran in Ambalappuzha this time, accused the former Minister of reducing himself to a “political clown.”

In a message posted on social media on Monday, Mr. Salam said that even though Mr. Sudhakaran had repeatedly insulted the party and its leaders, the restraint shown by the CPI(M) “should not be mistaken for weakness.” He further claimed that it was only because of Mr. Vijayan’s “magnan