‘He provoked me’: Sudhakaran to campaign against Minister Prasad as rift in Kerala CPM widens. india news
New Delhi: CPM rebel leader G Sudhakaran on Friday announced that he will campaign against Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad in Cherthala and accused him of making inappropriate remarks.“Speaking to reporters in Alappuzha, Sudhakaran, who is contesting the election as an independent with the support of the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), said he had earlier decided not to participate in campaign activities outside his constituency.“I had decided not to participate in any election campaign outside Ambalappuzha. But now I have decided to campaign against Prasad in Cherthala because he has made unnecessary statements against me,” he told reporters in Alappuzha.Sudhakaran alleged that Prasad made the comments without consulting the state or district leadership of the CPI.“He is the only person in the CPI who has spoken against me. The party has not yet officially commented on the matter. I was silent, but he provoked me to take this stand,” the rebel leader said.Prasad had recently described Sudhakaran’s decision to contest as motivated by “desire for power” and said voters would reject him.Rejecting the CPI(M)’s charge that he was motivated by parliamentary ambitions, Sudhakaran questioned whether other leaders did not also have similar aspirations.“People are elected to the assembly to strengthen the communist movement. Earlier, capable leaders were sent. Now look at the people being elected. I joined the party in 1963 and now people are trying to teach me about it,” he said.He further alleged that his past statements were now being used against him during the campaign and expressed grief over the attacks on his family by party workers.“This is why I am contesting the elections this time. Even those in the top leadership who supported the false complaints were not rectified,” he said.However, the four-time MLA did not comment on the UDF’s decision not to field candidates in Ambalappuzha.“Local UDF leaders have met me and extended their support. I will contest the elections as an independent candidate for the people. Political criminals are joining the campaign in the name of the party. People will not vote for him,” Sudhakaran commented.All 126 assembly seats in Kerala will go to polls on April 9, with counting taking place on May 4 along with elections in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.As the ruling Left Democratic Front is trying to come to power for the third consecutive time, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is also eyeing a hat-trick at the top post.

