The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) is experiencing significant internal turbulence in Kerala. This unrest is widespread across the state, prompting several workers to abandon what they describe as a “sinking ship” and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Recently, two prominent defections have been reported from Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram.
സിപിഎം മംഗലപുരം ഏരിയാ സെക്രട്ടറിയായിരുന്ന ശ്രീ. മധു മുല്ലശ്ശേരി, മകനും ഡിവൈഎഫ്ഐ നേതാവുമായ മിഥുൻ മുല്ലശ്ശേരി, സഹപ്രവർത്തകരേയും ബിജെപി സംസ്ഥാന അധ്യക്ഷൻ ശ്രീ കെ സുരേന്ദ്രൻ അംഗത്വം നൽകി സ്വീകരിച്ചു pic.twitter.com/x5x4rcv1Be
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In Alappuzha, CPM leader Bipin C. Babu joined the BJP on 30 November. Bipin, a former Area Committee member, has also served as the vice-president of the Panchayat and as a member of the Alappuzha District Panchayat. Additionally, he is a former district secretary of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and a former district president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). Bipin C. Babu had previously accused CPM members of orchestrating the murder of Sathyan, an auto driver, which he alleged was a carefully planned act. However, the party implicated him in the case as an accused.
In Thiruvananthapuram, another senior leader, Madhu Mullasserry, who served as the CPM’s Mangalapuram Area Secretary, also defected to the BJP. Madhu’s entire family, including his son Mithun Mullasserry, a DYFI leader, and his daughter Mathu, joined the BJP alongside him. Madhu later revealed his intention to expose corruption within the cooperative sector and financial irregularities involving CPM district secretary V. Joy.
While welcoming Madhu into the BJP, state president K. Surendran assured the media that his party would safeguard those who join its ranks. He added that many more CPM members are expected to follow suit, predicting that the CPM could disappear from Kerala under Pinarayi Vijayan’s rule.
The former CPM leaders who have defected to the BJP alleged that Islamic forces are exerting increasing control over the CPM. Both leaders clarified that they are not seeking any positions within the BJP but are motivated by their belief in India’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. BJP leaders remain optimistic that more CPM members will likely join their party in the near future.
