‘Local CPM leaders called me secretly to congratulate; martyr families voted for me’

KANNUR: Designated MLA V Kunhikrishnan said Kerala could turn into Bengal if the CPM is not ready to correct itself. Many including martyr families voted for him. He said that after winning, local CPM leaders secretly called and congratulated him. Kunhikrishnan said that it was impossible to cross the majority of half a lakh votes and that the voters were convinced that the issue he raised was right.

He said the scale of the undercurrent was unexpected, though early signs were visible from the first round of counting. He added that he secured higher-than-expected leads in all panchayats, including a margin of over 3,000 votes in Dhanaraj’s home area.

Kunhikrishnan, a former CPM district committee member, won as an independent candidate backed by the UDF, defeating sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan with a majority of 7,487 votes. He was expelled from the CPM in connection with a fund misappropriation controversy in Payyannur.