Palakkad, June 16 (UNI) The Kottayi Police closed the Congress Constituency Committee office at Kottayi near Alathur in Palakkad district on Monday, following a clash between the CPI(M) and Congress workers over the ownership of the office.
A tense situation prevailed in Kottayi and surrounding areas after the incident and large number of police were camping in the site.
The conflict erupted after Kottayi Congress Mandalam committee President K Mohan Kumar and 14 other Congress workers resigned from the party due to internal feud and disagreements and officially joined the CPI(M) earlier in the day. They were welcomed at a CPI(M) district Committee function held in Palakkad office.
Later, in the afternoon, Mohan Kumar, along with CPI(M) workers, arrived at the disputed office and allegedly attempted to repaint it in CPI(M)'s signature red colour. This move was strongly opposed by Congress workers, who blocked their entry, resulting in a physical confrontation between the two groups.
Congress workers claimed that the titled-roof office has been under their use for nearly 70 years on a rental basis. The rent agreement, they said, is traditionally registered in the name of the sitting Mandalam committee president and does not get transferred when the individual leaves the party.
District Congress Committee (DCC) president A Thankappan clarified that the Congress has not handed over the building to the CPI(M), despite a few members switching sides.
However, Mohan Kumar countered saying that the current rent agreement is in his name, and that it does not specify any particular political party. He insisted that the office, therefore, should remain under his control for political use.
Following the clash among the party workers, Police rushed to the spot and used lathi charges to evacuate both groups and sealed the office to prevent further escalation.
Police officials stated that a meeting will be convened shortly with the building owner, representatives from both parties, and the RDO to resolve the dispute amicably.
UNI AK RN