CPI(M) in Keralam steps up attack on G. Sudhakaran, seeks details of election funds

The bitter political slugfest in Ambalappuzha, Keralam, has entered a fresh round, with CPI(M) Alappuzha district secretariat member H. Salam launching a sharp attack on G. Sudhakaran, MLA, accusing him of financial irregularities and challenging him to come clean on his assets.

Mr. Salam, who contested against Mr. Sudhakaran in the 2026 Assembly elections, questioned the MLA over the lakhs of rupees allegedly collected in the latter’s and the party’s name during the 2021 Assembly election. In a social media post on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), Mr. Salam also challenged the veteran legislator to disclose details of the collections and explain how the money was spent.

Mr. Salam questioned whether the funds were used to acquire land and other assets, including in Paravur, in the names of Mr. Sudhakaran’s wife and son.

Taking aim at the MLA’s image as an anti-corruption crusader, Mr. Salam asked whether Mr. Sudhakaran was prepared to disclose the assets held by his family and details of his son’s NRI accounts.

The CPI(M) leader also challenged Mr. Sudhakaran to clarify whether he had earlier asked DYFI leaders to engage in criminal activities. “A person who betrayed the party and walked out has no business claiming to reform the CPI(M),” he said.

War of words

The latest salvo comes amid an increasingly bitter and personal war of words between Mr. Sudhakaran and CPI(M) leaders in Alappuzha.

“I had decided not to respond to every objectionable remark made by Sudhakaran. But he is now targeting and defaming those who work tirelessly for the party and those who worked for the LDF in Ambalappuzha as directed by the party,” wrote Mr. Salam.

He accused Mr. Sudhakaran of repeatedly making personal attacks against women leaders who had served as elected representatives, as well as leaders including Saji Cherian, C.S. Sujatha and C.B. Chandrababu.

Mr. Salam also hit back at Mr. Sudhakaran’s criticism of party fund collections. “Communist party fund collections are now a matter of contempt for Sudhakaran. But when lakhs of rupees were collected during the election without proper accounts being maintained, did he have the same contempt for such collections?” he asked.

The feud dates back to Mr. Sudhakaran’s decision to end his more than six-decade association with the CPI(M) and contest in Ambalappuzha as an Independent in the 2026 polls. He went on to pull off an unlikely victory, defeating the CPI(M)-backed candidate.

The political battle has only intensified since. At the inauguration of his MLA office in June this year, Mr. Sudhakaran launched a blistering attack on the CPI(M) and its leadership, particularly former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whom he likened to a “drenched chicken” in the Assembly.