Published Sep 06, 2026 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 06, 2026 | 11:13 AM
Visuals of the incident have since emerged, showing a heated confrontation between the MLA, her associates and local party workers.
Synopsis: Visuals of the incident have since emerged, showing a heated confrontation between the MLA, her associates and local party workers. Ramya Haridas has alleged that local Congress leaders assaulted her during the altercation and subsequently sought medical treatment at a hospital.
A day after a clash at the residence of a Congress leader in Kizhuvilam, allegations and counter-allegations have emerged from both sides, with the Chirayinkeezhu MLA Ramya Haridas alleging a conspiracy against her and the other side accusing her and her aide of threatening a family.
Police have registered cases based on complaints from both parties.
The dispute is linked to the elections to the Kizhuvilam cooperative bank, where Congress workers are contesting in two rival groups.
Attempts to resolve the differences through organisational-level discussions reportedly failed, with neither faction willing to compromise.
The Congress has now formed a committee to probe the incident.
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Visuals of the incident have since emerged, showing a heated confrontation between the MLA, her associates and local party workers.
Ramya Haridas has alleged that local Congress leaders assaulted her during the altercation and subsequently sought medical treatment at a hospital.
Speaking to the media after being discharged from hospital, Ramya Haridas alleged that a deliberate attempt was being made to trap her amid the ongoing factional dispute.
She said she had maintained a neutral position in the bank elections as both groups consisted of Congress workers and had decided not to attend the conventions of either faction.
According to the MLA, this stance angered one group, following which she was subjected to a campaign of slander and cyber attacks on social media and WhatsApp groups for nearly two months.
The MLA also denied allegations that she had defamed the daughter of local Congress leader Sajad. She alleged that she was deliberately invited to Sajad’s house and subsequently targeted as part of a conspiracy. The incident occurred at Sajad’s residence on the previous night.
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The immediate trigger was reportedly a WhatsApp message criticising the participation of Palayam Pradeep, who works as the MLA’s personal assistant, in an official meeting attended by the MLA, elected representatives and officials.
The MLA had later shared footage of Pradeep’s participation in the meeting in a WhatsApp group, following which Sajad questioned his presence through a message.
According to Sajad, Ramya Haridas and Pradeep reached his house around 9 p.m. on Friday and allegedly pressured his college-going daughter to read the WhatsApp message.
He said he had not invited the MLA to his residence and that he had told his daughter there was no need to read the message.
Sajad further alleged that the situation escalated after district panchayat member and WhatsApp group administrator Sajith Muttambalam and others reached the house.
He claimed that Sajith questioned the MLA about Pradeep’s authority to intervene in the matter, following which an altercation broke out.
Sajad alleged that the MLA threatened his wife and daughter and that Sajith was grabbed by the neck.
Sajith, meanwhile, denied that the incident was a fight between both parties and alleged that he was attacked by the MLA’s side.
He said he intervened after seeing Sajad’s daughter crying and alleged that the MLA’s group attempted to force her to read the WhatsApp message.
There were also allegations that a person attempting to record the incident was attacked. The incident has further deepened the factional tensions within the local Congress unit, where there have already been complaints against Palayam Pradeep.
Chirayinkeezhu police have registered cases on complaints filed by both sides.
Based on Ramya Haridas’s complaint, a case has been registered against seven Congress leaders, including district panchayat member Sajith Muttambalam and mandalam vice-president Sajad, invoking non-bailable sections.
Police have also registered a case against Ramya Haridas and Palayam Pradeep based on the complaint filed by Sajad and his wife.
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(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar).
