BJP-CPI(M) animosity takes a turn for the worse; clash in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram

Pic courtesy: Twitter

Thiruvananthapuram: A Bharatiya Janata Party state office was attacked in Kerala's capital early Friday, prompting BJP activists to stone the residence of Communist Party of India-Marxist`s state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan`s son within hours.

According to visuals released by the state BJP headquarters, at around 1:40 am, few persons arrived at the party`s office.

They smashed the window panes of around six vehicles parked inside the compound, including one that belonged to the party`s state chief Kummanem Rajasehekeran.

"This is a planned attack and it was unleashed by the CPI-M after coming to know that our state president was staying overnight at the office," party general secretary MT Ramesh told the media.

BJP`s lone legislator O Rajagopal told the media that the visuals showed the role of local CPI-M councillor IP Binu in the attacks.

A case has been registered and a probe is underway, police said.

Hours after the Left party`s attack, BJP workers stoned the residence of Bineesh Kodiyeri, the son of CPI(M)`s state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

"I was on my way back from Kannur, when I got this news. I was in the train," the CPI-M secretary said.

Balakrishnan said he generally stays in the party apartment but "at times I stay with my son and may be the BJP and RSS activists thought I was staying there last night and hence unleashed the attack".

"Only if a probe is launched will one know whether `they` had planned to attack that place, too," Balakrishnan said, adding: "We condemn this attack as we do not subscribe to any such attacks."

There has been sporadic clashes here between the two groups in the past two weeks.

The clashes had all begun when the student wings of these two political parties clashed in two colleges in Thiruvananthapuram earlier. Later, the youth wings of both parties flexed muscles against each other.

On Thursday, there were skirmishes between the workers of these parties at a few places in the city and its suburbs.

The Kerala Police has decided to strengthen security around both party offices.

(With Agency inputs)