Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Payyanur MLA Challenges CPM Leadership Over Election Defeat
V. Kunhikrishnan is a politician from Payyanur who used to belong to the CPM.
He recently won the constituency as a UDF-backed independent.
He says CPM leaders are blaming voters and party workers for the election loss.
He believes the party should instead examine its own mistakes.
Pinarayi Vijayan criticised Kunhikrishnan at a party meeting.
Vijayan said Kunhikrishnan damaged the party from inside and worked with its opponents.
Kunhikrishnan had earlier raised allegations about party money and the former MLA T. I. Madhusoodanan.
The CPM denied those allegations.
Kunhikrishnan says he will continue questioning the leadership because of his communist beliefs and commitment to truth.
Payyanur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan accused CPM leaders of avoiding responsibility for the party’s electoral setback.
He made the criticism after Pinarayi Vijayan addressed a political explanation meeting in Payyanur.
Kunhikrishnan alleged that party leaders blamed ordinary workers and voters rather than the CPM or its candidate.
He linked his election campaign to allegations of financial irregularities involving former MLA T. I. Madhusoodanan.
The CPM rejected the allegations, while Vijayan accused Kunhikrishnan of weakening the organisation and aiding political opponents.
- Who
- Payyanur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan and CPM leaders, including Pinarayi Vijayan and K. K. Ragesh.
- What
- Kunhikrishnan accused the CPM leadership of evading responsibility for an electoral setback and criticised its handling of party accountability.
- When
- The dispute followed Vijayan’s Saturday meeting and Kunhikrishnan’s Facebook post on Sunday.
- Where
- Payyanur in Kannur, Kerala.
- Why
- The disagreement concerns the CPM’s election loss, alleged organisational failures, party finances and allegations involving former MLA T. I. Madhusoodanan.
Kunhikrishnan’s Claims
CPM Leadership’s Response
Responsibility for the election setback
Kunhikrishnan’s Claims
Kunhikrishnan said the leadership was blaming ordinary party workers and voters instead of accepting responsibility for the defeat.
CPM Leadership’s Response
Vijayan and K. K. Ragesh’s explanation, according to Kunhikrishnan, did not assign responsibility to the CPM or its candidate; Vijayan separately criticised Kunhikrishnan’s political conduct.
Alleged financial irregularities
Kunhikrishnan’s Claims
Kunhikrishnan alleged irregularities involving funds collected for C. V. Dhanraj’s family, election expenses and a party-office construction project.
CPM Leadership’s Response
The CPM rejected these allegations and again nominated T. I. Madhusoodanan.
Kunhikrishnan’s role in the party dispute
Kunhikrishnan’s Claims
Kunhikrishnan said his commitment was to communist ideology and the truth, and that criticism or attempts to isolate him would not stop him from questioning leaders.
CPM Leadership’s Response
Vijayan accused him of creating public suspicion, weakening the organisation from within and establishing links with political opponents, describing him as an “axe in the hands of the party’s enemies.”
- Main critic
- Payyanur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan, a former CPM Kannur district committee member.
- CPM meeting
- Pinarayi Vijayan addressed a political explanation meeting in Payyanur.
- Election role
- Kunhikrishnan contested the recent election as a UDF-backed independent.
- Campaign allegations
- His campaign raised alleged financial irregularities involving former MLA T. I. Madhusoodanan.
- CPM response
- The CPM rejected the allegations and fielded Madhusoodanan again.
- Organisational concerns
- Kunhikrishnan cited alleged arrogance, corruption, nepotism, extravagant lifestyles and candidate-selection lapses.
- Further claims
- He questioned the management of party funds in Payyanur and referred to repeated audits.