CPI(M) in Kerala expels V. Kunhikrishnan over martyrs’ fund allegations

CPI(M) expels V. Kunhikrishnan over allegations regarding martyrs’ fund, citing repeated settled issues and undermining party unity.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday (January 26, 2026) expelled Kannur district committee member V. Kunhikrishnan from the party’s primary membership over publicly raising allegations related to collection of a martyrs’ fund in a television interview.

Announcing the decision at a press conference, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh said Mr. Kunhikrishnan had “acted as a tool in the hands of party enemies” by repeating issues that had already been settled by the district committee in April 2022.

Mr. Ragesh alleged that the interview aired by the news channel was “deliberately timed” ahead of (Assembly) elections and amounted to “stabbing the party in the back.”

Mr. Ragesh said the party had earlier examined the allegations raised by Mr. Kunhikrishnan in the district committee and found them to be baseless. He accused Mr. Kunhikrishnan of attempting to “personally defame” party legislator from Payyannur T.I. Madhusoodanan by linking him to land dealings and cooperative institutions, despite Mr. Madhusoodanan not holding any official position in such bodies.

According to Mr. Ragesh, an inquiry commission report had concluded that there was a deliberate attempt to tarnish Mr. Madhusoodanan’s image, a finding that Mr. Kunhikrishnan “himself had accepted.”

He further claimed that the party possessed clear evidence regarding the alleged leakage of “internal information” and said Mr. Kunhikrishnan had “effectively admitted to it in his own statements.”