CPI(M) engineered unrest as a diversionary tactic, says Keralam Minister O.J. Janeesh

Keralam Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs O.J. Janeesh on Friday (October 2, 2026) alleged a coordinated political conspiracy behind the recent violence at a Youth Congress rally in Thiruvananthapuram, and revealed that his official vehicle was ambushed nearly 10 times across Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

Speaking to reporters in Kollam, the Minister said stone-pelting mobs showed absolute disregard for his office, going as far as to destroy the National Flag mounted on his car during the targeted attacks.

‘Coordinated violence’

Placing the blame squarely on the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] top leadership, Mr. Janeesh said the wave of protests and violence was coordinated under explicit directives from senior party heads.

The Minister alleged that former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) State leaders engineered the unrest as a diversionary tactic to deflect growing public scrutiny away from high-profile corruption probes, including ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations and the ‘masappadi’ scandal.

Mr. Janeesh raised questions over the absence of Mr. Vijayan and CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan from the fourth death anniversary commemoration of veteran party leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Kannur on Thursday. He claimed that both leaders deliberately remained stationed in Thiruvananthapuram to oversee a strategy centered out of the University College hostel, aiming to leverage campus clashes, stir political volatility, and shift the broader narrative in the State.

“The attacks were designed to provoke CPI(M) cadres, demoralised by recent electoral setbacks, into hitting the streets,” he said.

Questions SFI

He questioned why Students’ Federation of India (SFI) workers felt aggrieved by slogans raised against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the BJP, and the RSS.

The Minister asked how anti-BJP slogans could trigger SFI members into launching stones and beer bottles at marchers, while simultaneously criticising CPI(M) leaders for holding demonstrations against Central policies in Delhi while systematically suppressing youth-led protests back home in Keralam.

Mr. Janeesh added that democratic forms of protest such as black-flag demonstrations are acceptable, but violent destruction of State property crosses a clear line. He cautioned that if his party opted to retaliate in equal measure, the law and order situation across the State would rapidly spiral out of control.