Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to her parliamentary constituency of Wayanad in Kerala has been marred by controversy following the alleged suicides of two Congress party workers. The incidents have placed the Congress party under pressure, with questions being raised about the circumstances surrounding the deaths. One suicide occurred last year, and another recently, prompting criticism from the CPM, which has highlighted what it sees as internal issues within the Congress in Wayanad.
N.M. Vijayan, the former treasurer of the District Congress Committee (DCC), and his son died by suicide in Wayanad last year after ingesting poison. More recently, Jose Nelledam, a senior Congress leader and a member of the Mullankolli panchayat, also ended his life. Adding to the turmoil, Padmaja, Vijayan’s daughter-in-law, attempted suicide by cutting her wrist following the alleged suicide of a local party worker. Padmaja is reported to be in stable condition after being hospitalized.
Financial difficulties appear to be a central issue in the suicides. Vijayan and his son are believed to have been deeply in debt. Padmaja reportedly stated that the party had promised financial assistance to the family after Vijayan’s death but failed to deliver on that promise. Vijayan (78) and his son (38) allegedly took their lives due to crippling debt, which they claimed was incurred for party activities. Following the deaths, the Congress pledged to take responsibility for the debt. However, Padmaja stated that the family still owes a substantial amount, with only a small portion of the debt having been settled. She emphasized that the debt was incurred for party-related purposes and that the party had not honored its commitment to cover the liabilities. The family is planning protests and a memorandum to the Chief Minister.
Regarding the death of Jose Nelledam, a video emerged in which Nelledam claimed he was wrongly targeted in connection to the arrest of Kanattumalayil Dhyanvadan. Dhyanvadan was arrested after the discovery of alcohol and explosives at his home, but was later released when it was determined that another party worker had planted the items. Nelledam admitted he informed the police but felt he was falsely accused. Wayanad DCC president N.D. Appachan has called for the suicide note found at Nelledam’s home to be made public and expressed concerns about potential irregularities. He believes that the police action may have been politically motivated. He stated that the DCC is supporting Nelledam’s family, and denying that internal conflicts exist within the party.
The CPM has seized on the situation, criticizing the Congress over its internal problems in Wayanad. Minister V. Sivankutty accused the Congress of resembling a mafia in Kerala, citing actions like murder, abetting suicide, violence, and abortion as characteristics. He referenced the attempted suicide of N.M. Vijayan’s daughter-in-law. Sivankutty characterized the internal issues of the Congress as a social problem, pointing out that critics are subject to cyberattacks.