No fisticuff during CPM meeting; Pathanamthitta district committee denies news

PATHANAMTHITTA: CPM Pathanamthitta district leadership has denied the report which claimed that two leaders were engaged in a verbal exchange and fisticuff during the CPM district secretariat meeting over Thomas Isaac's election campaign. The district leadership denied the news during the press conference held under the leadership of district secretary KP Udhayabhanu. Former MLAs Raju Abraham, A Padmakumar and district committee member PB Harshakumar attended the press conference. Udhayabhanu alleged that the efforts of some media outlets to make false claims against the CPM during the election time were behind this news. He also said that the party will take legal action against this.

Earlier, it was reported that the CPM district secretariat meeting in Pathanamthitta witnessed a verbal exchange and fisticuff between the leaders over the election campaign of Thomas Isaac. As per the report, Padmakumar and Harshakumar were engaged in a verbal dispute. The district leadership came out denying the news after the incident sparked a major controversy.

Earlier, criticism was raised against Thomas Isaac over his campaign works in Pathanamthitta. The UDF had alleged Isaac was using Kudumbashree, Haritha Karma Sena and ASHA workers for campaigning. However, Isaac denied this allegation.

Speaking to the media, Isaac said that as a candidate, there was nothing wrong with going to the place where the Kudumbashree meeting was taking place and asking for votes. Isaac said this after the District Collector sought an explanation from him over the alleged violation of the moral code of conduct.