Kannur 28 March (H.S.):Tensions flared in Kerala’s Kannur district on Saturday after Congress workers prevented rebel candidate Koyyam Janardanan from garlanding a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, triggering a brief confrontation at Malappattam near Taliparamba.

The incident occurred when Janardanan, a former Congress leader now contesting as an independent after being expelled from the party, arrived at the site to launch his election campaign. As part of the customary political gesture, he attempted to place a garland on the Gandhi statue installed by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) along the roadside in front of a Congress worker’s residence.

However, a group of Congress workers, who had gathered at the location, obstructed him from doing so. The workers reportedly insisted that a person expelled from the party should not be allowed to garland a statue installed by the KPCC. This led to a heated verbal exchange between Janardanan’s supporters and the Congress workers, which soon escalated into minor pushing and jostling.

With the situation turning tense, Janardanan and his team eventually withdrew from the spot without proceeding with the garlanding.

Speaking to the media later, Janardanan termed the incident a “violation of democratic rights.” He alleged that denying him the opportunity to pay respects to Gandhi reflected intolerance within the party ranks. “The public is watching all this,” he said, adding that such actions would only strengthen his resolve.

Despite the confrontation, Janardanan asserted that his election campaign would continue without interruption, signalling that the episode would not deter his political efforts in the constituency.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman