Four Congress Workers Dead by Suicide Amidst Infighting in Wayanad; Priyanka Gandhi Seeks Report
The internal problems within the Congress party in Wayanad district and the continuous suicides of local leaders have plunged the party into a deep crisis. In the last two years, four Congress leaders in Wayanad have reportedly committed suicide. Many of them took their own lives after raising serious allegations against District Congress Committee (DCC) leaders. There are growing accusations that the state leadership has failed to make significant interventions despite these continuous deaths and persistent infighting among local leaders. Meanwhile, MP Priyanka Gandhi has reportedly sought a detailed report from the district leadership regarding these controversies.
This string of tragedies began in 2023 when Rajendran Nair, a prominent Congress leader from the Pulpally region, committed suicide. His death was reportedly a result of becoming a victim of a loan fraud orchestrated by the Congress-led Pulpally Bank governing body.
The following year, in 2024, N.M. Vijayan, who served as the DCC Treasurer, along with his son, fell victim to a recruitment scam within cooperative banks in Bathery. Allegations surfaced that DCC leaders attempted to swindle crores of rupees from job aspirants, and the financial burden ultimately fell on N.M. Vijayan. Driven to despair, he tragically committed suicide after allegedly poisoning his disabled son.
More recently, just two days ago, Jose Nalledam, the Mullanholly Mandal Vice President and Ward Member, also took his own life. His suicide was reportedly triggered by fear of being framed in a false case stemming from ongoing group disputes within the party. It is alleged that a rival leader, Kanattumala Thankachan, attempted to frame him by planting explosives and liquor at his residence.
Adding to the grim sequence of events, Padmaja, the daughter-in-law of the late N.M. Vijayan, attempted suicide yesterday. She is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Sulthan Bathery. Padmaja has announced her intention to file a complaint with the Chief Minister and commence a hunger strike in protest.
Prior to these incidents, in 2015, another Congress worker, P.V. John, then the Mananthavady Block Committee President and DCC General Secretary, committed suicide inside the party office. At the time, allegations suggested that his mental distress, caused by his own party members sabotaging him during local elections, led to his drastic step. The recurring suicides and allegations highlight a deep-seated crisis within the Wayanad Congress unit, prompting calls for urgent and effective intervention from the state and national leadership.