BJP-CPM clash again in Kumarakom

KOTTTAYAM: There has been growing tension between the  CPM and BJP cadres  in Kumarakom and  nearby areas leading to the eruption of violence.    In the latest incident,  the CPM's Illickal local committee office in Thiruvarppu panchayat was attacked on Wednesday night. The people fear that it may develop into a major law and order situation in the area.     The BJP had proved its strength in Kumarakom panchayat, a traditional CPM stronghold, during the panchayat elections  in 2015 when it secured two seats--the 12th and 18th wards--out of the total  16.  

The  BJP  also came second in two other wards  with the help of the  SNDP- floated Bharathiya Dharma Jana Sena which has  sizeable  Ezhava comunity votes.   The CPM has nine  members in the panchayat and  the Congress  and the CPI one each. “We have to find out the culprits behind  the attack on the Illickal office  as  some  extremist organisations may be involved,”  CPM district secretariat member K. Anil Kumar told DC. BJP state council member and former district president Ettumanur Radhakrishnan said the  friction between the two parties had been existing for  some time after many  CPM activists joined the BJP.