It is a do or die situation for the CPI-M in Kerala, one political analyst says.
In the high stakes battle for Kerala where polls are expected in just a few months, the political temperature in Kannur continues to rise, often seething with bloodshed.
Earlier this week, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker PV Sujith who was with the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) earlier, was hacked to death. It is the 41st political murder in Kannur in a decade.
Memorials for 'martyrs', built either by CPI-M or BJP and RSS, in the memory of their party activists killed by their political opponents, are a trademark of Kannur. This is central to the politics in Kannur and elections in the state.
"CPM in Kerala is in a do or die situation with what's happening in West Bengal. BJP is desperately trying to make inroads and is targeting Kerala in South of India", Umesh Babu a writer and political analyst said.
'Martyr memorials' built by parties for their killed acitivists are common in Kannur.
In the last 10 years, 173 CPI-M party activists have been accused in 21 murder cases. 110 workers have been named in 14 such cases in the district. But no one has been convicted in any of the political murders in the last 10 years.
"State BJP leaders and district leaders and thousands of leaders from the BJP have joined CPI-M. That's why the BJP is targeting CPI-M including the district secretary of Kannur. It is our cadre which is getting killed, but we are being blamed", KK Ragesh, a lawmaker from CPI-M says.
Refuting the allegations, advocate Ratnakaran, who is also the BJP district general secretary said, "We will respond in democratic ways to CPI-M. People of Kerala have understood the reality and this election they are going to vote against the CPI-M. CPI-M is trying hard to push us into violence."