AFTER the LDF’s victory in the assembly election in Kerala, the RSS-BJP combine mounted attack on CPI(M) cadres and its offices throughout the state. BJP’s expectation was high, but it won a single seat in the state and increased its vote share. BJP president Amit Shah’s boast of the party’s tally reaching double-digit figure fell in the ground. Naturally, their ire has been directed against the Left Democratic Front, particularly the CPI(M).

After the election, RSS-backed goons have killed two CPI(M) cadres. More than 80 Party workers and their family members were injured and had to be hospitalised. Throughout the state, they are attacking our Party offices and workers’ houses. Soon after the election results were out on May 19, RSS-BJP goons started attacking victory rallies of the CPI(M) and LDF throughout the state. It all began from Dharmadam, the assembly constituency of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. RSS goons threw a powerful bomb at the LDF victory rally in Pinarayi Puthankandath. A CPI(M) worker, C V Raveendran (55), was killed. Raveendran’s son Jithin (26) and six others were injured and had to be hospitalised. The Left Democratic Front trounced the Congress-led United Democratic Front in the assembly election, winning a clear majority in the 140-member House.

After the incident, the CPI(M) asked its cadres to suspend victory processions to avert further clashes. Earlier too, RSS deliberately tried to create tension by destroying LDF’s flexboards and posters in the same village.

The Revenue minister and CPI legislator from Kanhangad was attacked during a victory procession at Mavungal. Stones were hurled at him and he was seriously injured. With injury in hand, he attended the oath-taking ceremony in the state capital. In the same attack, LDF constituency secretary T K Ravi and CPI(M) leader A K Narayanan were also injured. CPI(M) district committee office in Kasargode too was not spared.

In Koothuparamba in Kannur district, RSS criminals entered the house of a CPI(M) worker, Aaram Veetil Saseendran, and attempted to kill his wife and two children. Saseendran’s wife Savithri (45) and two sons were injured in the attack. His 21-year-old son Atul was beaten with a heavy metal rode. Seriously wounded, Atul was admitted to a private hospital in Mangalore in Karnataka.

A CPI(M) worker was injured after being attacked by RSS goons at Thekkan Annara in Tirur. Subin Lal (22), a native of Vemanna Illathappady, was attacked by a group of six people when he was travelling in a motorbike with his friends. The attackers threw pepper and chili powder on his face. When he fell off the motorbike, the attackers beat him up severely.

The escalating attack by the Hindutva brigade in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala, took another CPI(M) worker’s life. Chemban Sasikumar, 42, a native of Pokkulangara in Thrissur, was attacked by RSS goons and severely injured. He died in hospital a week later. Sasikumar, a daily wager, is survived by his wife and two minor children. Following the death of Sasikumar, the CPI(M) called for a hartal in coastal areas of the district as mark of protest against the killing. At Edavilangadu and kuzhhoor, Party local committee offices were ransacked. At Kuzhoor, the houses of two CPI(M) workers were attacked and severely damaged.

Three mediapersons were attacked by BJP workers in Ottapalam in Palakkad on June14. The attack took place when the journalists tried to record visuals of six BJP workers who were arrested in connection with clashes and were brought to a court in Ottapalam. Asianet News senior reporter Shyam Kumar, Reporter TV scribe Sreejith and Mathrubhoomi cameraperson Anoop are the three mediapersons who were attacked. The attack was led by district RSS functionary Vishnu. Vishnu actually belongs to Thiruvananthapuram district. RSS deployed him at Ottappalam, only to organise attack against CPI(M) in the area. In a purported video of the incident, the journalists could be seen being manhandled. This apart, they also threatened to kill the mediapersons. According to the report, the police brought the BJP workers to the court in a private vehicle, followed by a number of BJP workers on bikes, which then attacked the journalists. Meanwhile, the chief minister's office said that strict action would be taken against those behind the attack. Noting that the government is committed to protect freedom of the media, the chief minister said any attempt to curb media freedom would be prevented. He said that the attack on journalists in Ottapalam is not in accordance with the principles of democracy.

Southern Kerala also witnessed RSS’ bloody campaign against CPI(M). In Chavara in Quilon district, four DYFI workers were injured in a sword attack by RSS criminals. Ochira, Sooranadu, Thazhava also witnessed similar attacks. Dozens of CPI(M) workers and sympathisers were assaulted. Four houses of CPI(M) workers were ransacked in Mannanchery Netaji Nagar in Alapuzha district. In Thiruvananthapuram district, RSS-BJP workers destroyed CPI(M) offices at Nemom and Kazhakootam.

The chain of incidents and their ferocity implied that these were pre-planned. BJP chief Amit Shah has publically called for a bloody campaign against the government, led by CPI(M). BJP said it would not sit quiet if the "cycle of violence" continues in the state as it claimed that it has emerged as a powerful alternative voice to the two main fronts led by CPI(M) and Congress. While Shah attacked the Left in a series of tweets, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad later addressed a press conference to hit out at the Left. “We are concerned about safety of our karyakartas and assure them our full support in their fight against an undemocratic Left regime. I have ordered setting up of a committee which will visit and investigate this violence," Shah said.

“I want to warn them that BJP will not tolerate violence against its cadres and swayamsewaks (RSS volunteers) in Kerala. This will not be tolerated. CPI(M) needs to recognise one thing very clearly that BJP is ruling the country and is in government in 14 states,” he said. Asked what the party intended to do, he shot back, “We will not sit quiet.” So the cat is out of the bag.