‘Pinarayi did not lead the CPM in the right path; leadership will bury this party,’ says G Sudhakaran

ALAPPUZHA: UDF-backed independent candidate G Sudhakaran, who won from Ambalappuzha, sharply criticized Pinarayi Vijayan, saying he did not lead the CPM along the path of the party. Speaking to a private channel, he said the remark ‘chetta’ used against him by the chief minister is ideological poverty. ‘All factors were in my favor. I decided to contest as a people’s independent candidate after realizing that people from all communities and political backgrounds were with me. I did not consult anyone. I only spoke with my son and wife. Initially, I had no support. The UDF extended support only after a week and accepting it turned beneficial. I am grateful to them for that.

I was confident of victory. Instead of politics, the CPM resorted to character assassination. Will people vote for those who insult others without political substance? Is there anyone left in Kerala to tell the CPM that such behavior is unacceptable? When I was in the CPM, the party was not like this. Even until four or five years ago, it was different. Now, the CPM is no longer the CPM—it has only the flag, symbol, and speeches left. That is why I left the party. I have no intention to return to the CPM, but would never criticize Marxist ideology or the party as a whole, since it was not created by the present leadership. The present functioning is full of contradictions. This leadership will bury the party six feet under. It will consume itself,’ he said. Raising allegations of political criminalism within the CPM, Sudhakaran ended his six-decade association with the party and contested as a rebel candidate with UDF support, securing a resounding victory in Ambalappuzha. He defeated CPM’s H Salam by a margin of 27,935 votes, significantly improving upon his earlier winning margins.