All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Thursday termed as “serious” the statement of former CPI(M) leader G. Sudhakaran that the memorial of P. Krishna Pillai was allegedly set ablaze by the CPI(M), while reiterating allegations of a long-standing understanding between the CPI(M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala.Addressing the media in Kannur, Mr. Venugopal said the CPI(M)’s role in the INDIA bloc should not be confused with its political stance in Kerala. He pointed out that while parties like the All India Trinamool Congress were part of the alliance, the CPI(M) continued to oppose them in West Bengal. The Congress, he said, was opposing what it saw as the misguided policies of the CPI(M) in Kerala.He alleged that the Assembly election reflected a continuation of a tacit CPI(M)-BJP understanding, claiming that several seats of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were allotted to weaker allies in the election.Published - March 27, 2026 01:26 am IST