RSS Activist Dies By Suicide After BJP Ticket Denial for Kerala Local Elections

An RSS activist allegedly died by suicide in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, claiming that he was denied a BJP ticket for the upcoming local body elections, police said.

The deceased, identified as Anand K Thampi of Thrikkannapuram, was found hanging in a shed on his residential premises in the evening.

According to police, Thampi had aspirations to contest as the BJP candidate from the Thrikkannapuram ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

He reportedly became distressed after discovering his name was not included on the BJP's Thiruvananthapuram candidate list.

However, local BJP leaders maintained that he never formally approached them seeking a ticket, and insisted his death should not be connected to the ticket denial.

After not finding his name in the BJP's candidate list, Thampi announced on social media his intention to contest as an independent candidate.

Police reported that he sent a WhatsApp message to friends making allegations against RSS and BJP leaders before declaring his intention to end his life on Saturday afternoon.

In his message, Thampi stated he had informed RSS activists about his desire to contest the election.

He alleged that his ticket was denied due to the interests of certain local leaders with connections to the sand-smuggling mafia.

Thampi also claimed that after deciding to run as an independent, his friends began distancing themselves from him, which deeply upset him.

Later, he attempted suicide by hanging in the shed of his house.

Upon seeing his message, friends rushed to his residence and transported him to a hospital, but he passed away by evening.

BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed shock upon learning about the incident.

"I checked with the district president, who said his name was not in the shortlist received from the ward. But we will examine the incident," he stated.

BJP leaders in the district denied that Thampi had ever approached them seeking a ticket.

They insisted that Thampi's death could not be attributed to the denial of a seat.

They added that the other allegations he made would be thoroughly examined.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leaders revealed that Thampi had approached them seeking support to contest in the election after the BJP denied him a ticket.

According to them, party leaders in the district attended a meeting with Thampi at his hotel on Friday evening.

Following the meeting, Thampi decided to take Shiv Sena membership and was engaged in campaigning on Saturday morning. Police have launched an investigation.

A case will be registered based on his relatives' statements, officials said.

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