Kozhikode: Raising many an eyebrow, CPM strongman P. Jayarajan on Monday visited his independent challenger in Vadakara, C.O.T. Naseer, who had survived an attempt on his life last week.
He denied any role in the brutal attack on his former disciple late Saturday evening, saying they had no personal enmity as he had just decided to go it alone after refusing to renew his party membership.
"I enquired about his condition to his brother who is a party member," he later told reporters on the hospital premises here.
"He stated nothing against the party to the police and the claims to the contrary by the UDF leaders are unfounded."
He said Mr Naseer had refused to renew his membership objecting to the column seeking the "social" identity and he was holding independent views since.
A gang of three attacked him just 500 meters away from his house on Kayath road in Thalassery town in Kannur district, which is part of Vadakara constituency.
The police said the unidentified assailants attacked him with iron rods and "metal equipment" inflicting grievous wounds on the head, stomach, arms and legs.
His Congress party rival K. Muraleedharan and BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas also visited him along with many other leaders in hospital on the day.
They equated the attack to the brutal murder of rebel leader T.P. Chandrasekharan in 2012 to seek revenge on him for running against Mr Jayarajan's sister P. Satheedevi in 2009, which led to the victory of Congress candidate Mullappally Ramachandran in Vadakara constituency.
