KOZHIKODE: A day after writer T. Padmanabhan surprised everyone by donating the security deposit for CPM candidate Karayi Rajan to contest, he told DC that he was still a Congress man.
“I am still a Congress man. Does Congress manifesto tell that its supporter should not give security money for a CPM candidate,” he asked.
When asked if he felt nothing unusual in supporting Mr Rajan, who is an accused in the murder case of Popular Front of India member Fasal, Mr Padmanabhan said he had no need to convince the reporter.
Though Mr Padmanabhan has never been firm on his party affiliations, he is a known Gandhian and admirer of Nehruvian socialist ideals.
KPCC general secretary and former DCC president P. Ramakrishnan lashed out at him saying his act amounted to cultural decay.
“It is most unfortunate move on the part of a well-regarded writer. He has stooped to the lowest by this action,” Ramakrishnan said.
Mr Rajan, a CPM district secretariat member, is the eighth accused in Fasal murder case. He was also a defendant in the murder of RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan.
The writer had handed over Rs-3,000 security deposit to him along with a copy of his latest book, Apoorvaragam. After submitting his nomination paper in Kannur, Mr Rajan first visited Padmanabhan’s house.
Meanwhile, Fasal’s widow, Mariyu, the SDPI candidate in Kaivattom ward of Thalasserry municipality, started campaigning on Tuesday.
