Fri May 16 19:40:44 IST 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and Congress party are accusing each other of inciting violence in Kannur, Kerala. CPI(M) alleges Congress is using violence to distract from internal leadership disputes and embarrassing infighting ahead of the 2026 elections. Congress counters that CPI(M) is suppressing a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi and threatening Congress workers. The conflict stems from a dispute over the memorial’s location and has escalated into physical altercations.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Political Tensions Escalate as CPI(M) and Congress Trade Blame for Kannur Violence**

**Thiruvananthapuram, May 16, 2025** – Political tensions in Kerala have reached a fever pitch as the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Congress party engage in a heated blame game following a surge of violence in the Kannur district.

CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan accused Congress of deliberately instigating unrest to divert public attention from its internal struggles. He cited the party’s leadership rifts and the ongoing competition for the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) Chief Ministerial candidacy in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections as sources of embarrassment for Congress. Govindan also criticized former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran, claiming he was creating divisions. He alleged that Congress workers, led by Youth Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, had targeted CPI(M) offices and members, even invoking the murder of SFI leader Dheeraj to further inflame tensions.

In response, Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, KPCC president Sunny Joseph, and UDF convenor Adoor Prakash, MP, vehemently denied the allegations. They accused CPI(M) of suppressing the construction of a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi in Malapattam and threatening Congress workers with violence. They further stated that CPI(M) leaders had promised to send funeral wreaths to the homes of UDF workers.

The CPI(M)-Congress standoff in Malapattam began earlier this month over the location of the Gandhi memorial. The dispute has since escalated into stone-pelting incidents, protest marches, and the destruction of party symbols and billboards.

The escalating conflict raises concerns about the stability of the political landscape in Kerala as the 2026 Assembly elections approach. Both parties have called for calm, but tensions remain high, with each side accusing the other of deliberately provoking violence.

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