3 min readThiruvananthapuramUpdated: Oct 1, 2026 10:08 PM IST
A day after INDIA alliance partners announced plans for a unified nationwide agitation against the BJP-led Union government, tensions between the youth wings of Congress and CPI(M) escalated in Kerala, with clashes reported in Thiruvananthapuram and an alleged attack on the car of a state minister in Kannur.
Activists of CPI(M)’s youth wing DYFI allegedly waylaid and damaged the car of Youth Congress state president and Sports Minister O J Janeesh at multiple locations in Kannur on Thursday, according to Congress. The incident followed clashes between Youth Congress and CPI(M)’s student wing SFI in the Kerala capital on Wednesday night.
The Thiruvananthapuram clashes followed a Youth Congress protest march seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police and political parties gave differing accounts of the events, during which activists of the two sides allegedly threw stones and bottles at each other, leaving some injured.
Police later entered the University College hostel and used batons on SFI activists, according to CPI(M) leaders. CPI(M) leaders, led by Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan, visited the hostel premises late Wednesday night and raised the issue with the police.
The incidents came a day after INDIA bloc parties, including Congress and the Left, announced a joint action plan, with the first phase of ‘Save Democracy’ marches and district-level demonstrations scheduled from October 2 to 8. Opposition MPs are also scheduled to march to the Election Commission on October 6, followed by larger rallies, including one in Delhi on November 1.
The two sides subsequently traded allegations over the violence. DYFI state secretary V Vijin told the media that Youth Congress workers led by Janeesh had triggered the violence. “We will not remain mute spectators if the workers of the DYFI and SFI are attacked. DYFI is ready to confront the Youth Congress on the streets. We will take out protest marches across Keralam on Thursday evening,” he said.
Congress state president V D Satheesan condemned the alleged attack on Janeesh and questioned the CPI(M)’s response to the Youth Congress protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. “Why is CPI (M) getting uneasy over Congress agitations against Sangh Parivar? The attack on Youth Congress workers was carried out with the consent of CPI(M) leaders,” he said in a statement.
Referring to the incident involving the minister, Satheesan alleged that Janeesh was attacked in Kannur with the consent of the CPI(M) leadership. “CPI(M) is unleashing violence to wriggle out of the political crisis the party has been confronting after the debacle in the assembly elections. The government has the onus to end the violence and attacks the CPI(M) is carrying out with the support of mafia gangs,” he said.
