The political storm over alleged bribery in the Wadakkanchery block panchayat administration intensified on Friday as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) rejected the allegations, while the Youth Congress and the Congress accused the ruling party of resorting to “back doors” to cling to power.
Reacting to the allegations, CPI(M) district secretary KV Abdul Khader said there was “no attempt” by the party to lure or “bag” any member. “The allegations are baseless and unsupported by any evidence,” he said.
He added that it is the responsibility of the Congress to protect the vote of the United Democratic Front-Cated Independent. Mr. Khader made it clear that the CPI(M) would not resign as president or vice-president of the block panchayat.
The controversy centers around allegations that the CPI(M) offered ₹50 lakh to the independent EU-backed Indian Muslim League Union Jaffer to vote for the Left Democratic Front during the block panchayat president elections.
Escalating the attack, Youth Congress state president OJ Janeesh demanded clarification on whether the alleged offer of ₹50,000 was “tainted money from the Karuvannur Co-operative Bank scam”. “Those involved in the Karuvannur case are part of this deal,” he claimed.
Mr. Janeesh named Wadakkanchery MLA Xavier Chittilappilly and CPI(M) leader and MLA AC Moideen, saying both had links with the alleged bribe offer.
“If Jaffer’s call records are examined, many more facts will emerge,” Mr Janeesh said. He alleged that such a deal could not have taken place without the knowledge of the CPI(M) top leadership. He drew parallels with other local bodies and alleged that the CPI(M) followed a similar strategy in Mattathur by supporting the Congress rebels.
Mr. Janeesh pointed to the emergence of an audio clip which purportedly featured a CPI(M) regional secretary promising protection to Mr. Jaffer. “That in itself amounts to an admission that there was a bribe offer,” he said. He warned of intensified protests and said the Youth Congress would launch agitation programs if the CPI(M)-led block panchayat leadership refused to resign from posts “won using corrupt money”.
The criticism was joined by District Congress Committee President Joseph Tajet, who said the episode exposed the CPI(M) leadership’s “unsustainable hunger for power. The way the CPI(M) captured the presidency of the Wadakkanchery block panchayat through the back door puts even North Indian political horse-trading to shame,” he said.
“If there is any political morality left, the President should step down and restore dignity to the lost democracy,” Mr. Tajet said, accusing the CPI(M) of sacrificing ethical politics for administrative control.
Published – 02 Jan 2026 20:27 IST
