THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC Acting President MM Hassan has responded to CPM central committee member AK Balan's statement that the party will have to contest in symbols like pangolin, rat trap, scorpion and octopus in the next election. MM Hassan mocked that it was the cry of Balan in the face of defeat.

The endangered pangolin and palm civet are the most suitable symbols for the CPM. The habitat of palm civets is Cliff House and the official residences of ministers. Communism which is extinct all over the world remains only in Kerala. If you want to see the Communist Party after this election, you will have to go to the museum.

We will know whose funeral is going to happen in the next election when the results come out. In any case, it will not be Congress's. Without BJP's support, this will be the last election CPM will contest on its own symbol. Congress will ensure that they do not get a fixed percentage of votes or a single seat from Kerala. Who does not know that CPM's coffin would be sealed in the Lok Sabha elections due to the rule of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which is characterized by extreme right-wing deviation and BJP affiliation.

CPM is now at the mercy of BJP. The CPM was able to escape in the last assembly elections because of the BJP's help. This time their cooperation is more evident. EP Jayarajan's business deal with Rajeev Chandrasekhar is part of it. CPM is contesting not to overthrow the BJP, but to prevent its status reaching that of a pangolin' - MM Hassan said.