KK Rema’s Former Aide Injured During Vishu Festival; MLA Denounces CPM for Alleged False Bomb Claims

RMP Leader Rema Denounces False Bomb-Making Claims Against Former Staff Member

Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader and Vadakara MLA K K Rema has strongly refuted allegations that her former personal staff member was injured while manufacturing bombs, calling it a targeted misinformation campaign orchestrated by Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers.

During a press conference held in Kozhikode on Thursday, Rema clarified that the individual in question, identified as Riju, had actually sustained a minor finger injury while bursting firecrackers during Vishu celebrations, a traditional Kerala festival. Following the incident, Riju sought medical attention at Vadakara Cooperative Hospital.

“Fake propaganda is being circulated that Riju’s hand was severed in a bomb-making accident. CPM cyber teams are competing to spread this misinformation,” Rema stated, expressing concern over what she described as a deliberate attempt to damage her reputation and that of her party ahead of election results.

Riju himself appeared at the press conference to counter the allegations. He emphasized that the incident occurred while he was celebrating Vishu with family members at his residence, dismissing any connection to explosive manufacturing.

“CPM cyber handles and leaders are falsely claiming that bombs were being made ahead of the election results. This narrative is baseless,” Riju said, echoing Rema’s assertions about the politically motivated nature of the claims.

The timing of these allegations is particularly significant, coming in the tense period between voting and the announcement of results. As a member of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Rema contested the Assembly election held on April 9, with results expected on May 4. Political observers note that Vadakara has been a hotly contested constituency with historical tensions between the RMP and CPM.

The incident highlights the increasingly prominent role of social media in political communications in Kerala, where digital platforms have become battlegrounds for narrative control. Political analysts point out that such misinformation campaigns have become more sophisticated and targeted, especially during election periods.

The RMP, formed as a breakaway faction from the CPM following the murder of T.P. Chandrasekharan in 2012, has maintained a significant presence in the Vadakara region. Rema, widow of Chandrasekharan, has frequently alleged harassment and intimidation by CPM supporters in the area, making this latest accusation part of a longer history of political animosity.

Kerala’s political landscape has long been characterized by intense rivalries between left-leaning parties, with violence occasionally marring political discourse in certain regions. The northern districts, including Kozhikode where Vadakara is located, have witnessed particularly charged political environments.

This alleged misinformation campaign comes at a critical juncture in Kerala politics, as parties await the outcome of recent elections that could potentially reshape power dynamics in the state assembly. The UDF, of which RMP is a constituent, is hoping to make gains against the ruling Left Democratic Front led by the CPM.

Local police have not issued any formal statements regarding the incident or the claims made by either side. Media watchdog organizations in Kerala have previously called for greater restraint in political communications, particularly regarding unverified allegations that could inflame tensions between rival political groups.

As the state prepares for the announcement of election results, political observers are monitoring whether this incident might escalate into broader confrontations between supporters of different political alignments in the politically sensitive northern Kerala region.