BJP State Vice-President B Gopalakrishnan Mocks death of Anand

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP state vice-president B. Gopalakrishnan mocked Anand K. Thampi, who died by suicide in Thiruvananthapuram’s Thrikkannapuram after being sidelined and seeing candidates with sand-mafia links being chosen instead of him for the upcoming local body elections.

Gopalakrishnan responded that suicide is a personal matter and that such incidents happen due to mental disturbance. He sarcastically remarked that if people were to die by suicide because they did not get a party ticket, he himself should have died at least 12 times. In the circulating video, those standing beside him can also be seen laughing at his comment.

In his suicide note, the BJP worker from Thrikkannapuram had written that no BJP or RSS worker should be allowed to see his body wherever it is buried, and that the biggest mistake of his life was working with them.

The note clearly states that Anand, a resident of Thrikkannapuram, died by suicide because he was hurt after being ignored and watching the BJP select candidates who were linked to the sand mafia.

“It does not matter where my body is taken or buried, but I earnestly request that BJP and RSS workers should not be allowed to even see my physical body. The biggest mistake of my life was that I lived as an RSS worker till the very moment of my death. It is precisely this that pushed me into a situation where I had no choice but to end my life. I pray to God that no one else should ever face a similar fate.”

The note ends in this way, placing the BJP–RSS leadership in a difficult position.

The previous day, Anand himself had stated that he would contest as a rebel candidate. He had alleged that the BJP’s current candidate was someone with links to the sand mafia. After feeling betrayed by the BJP, which he had supported for many years, Anand attempted suicide. He was admitted to a private hospital and died while undergoing treatment. His suicide note has now been released.

Anand’s note states that the BJP area president of Thrikkannapuram ward, Udayakumar (known as Aalappuram Kuttan), the constituency committee member Krishnakumar, and the RSS nagar karyavah Rajesh are all part of the sand mafia. Their illegal activities require someone in power to support them, and it was for this purpose that Vinod Kumar (Ani), who is linked to the sand mafia, was chosen as the BJP candidate.

The Vanchinad Housing Construction Cooperative Society — run by RSS and BJP leaders — is also accused in Anand K. Thampi’s note. He writes that the society owes him 22 lakh rupees. If that amount were repaid, he could settle his bank loans, he wrote, adding that this money should somehow be recovered.