With Nikesh Kumar being fielded as the CPI(M) candidate for the assembly polls, his father MV Raghavan's sister Lakshmiamma has opposed his candidature, saying neither she nor her family will vote for Nikesh.
This comes in the wake of the Koothuparamba incident in 1994, when CPI(M) workers had allegedly attacked and set fire to Raghavan's house. Lakshiamma had a narrow escape in this incident. She says she will vote only for the UDF candidate.
"They set fire to the house. Now, he is contesting with Marxist party, we will vote only for UDF," she told Media One.
There are already growing voices of dissent within CPI(M) for casting Nikesh as his father Raghavan had a pivotal role in the firing at Koothuparamba, where the party lost five of its cadres (Koothuparamba rakthasakshikal).
Raghavan was dismissed from the CPI(M) in 1986 due to some internal issues. He later formed the Communist Marxist Party, a UDF ally.
In January 1993, Raghavan made a visit to Kannur district and had a few country-made bombs hurled at him allegedly by CPI(M) youth who were displeased with him for aligning with the UDF. Following that incident, the government arranged for extra security measures to be taken during Raghavan’s visits to Kannur.
Contrary to the advice given by the district administration, on November 25, 1994, Raghavan made plans to visit and attend the inauguration of the ‘evening branch of the Co-operative Urban Bank’, located in the Alakkandy Complex at Kuthuparamba – Tellicherry Road, Kannur District.
The first firing occurred in the proximity of the town hall, on the orders of the Executive Magistrate and the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The second firing occurred in the vicinity of Kuthuparamba police station on the orders of the Superintendent of Police. Five people were killed and several injured.
Now, Raghavan's son Nikesh Kumar is contesting from Azhikode constituency as a CPI(M) backed independent candidate.