Punnapra-Vayalar uprising served as inspiration for future struggles for social justice: Pinarayi Vijayan

Despite signs of divisions in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over PM SHRI, CPI(M) and CPI leaders shared the stage at the valedictory function of the 79th anniversary of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising at Vayalar on Monday (October 27, 2025).

Inaugurating the valedictory, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the brutal suppression at Punnapra and Vayalar was a ruthless move by the ruling class to crush the organised advance of the working class and the Communist party.

“In October 1946, comrades fought bravely against the guns of the Diwan’s army. Many comrades became martyrs in the struggles at Punnapra and Vayalar. The self-sacrificing struggle against the princely rule of Travancore and the American-model administration of Diwan C.P. Ramaswami Iyer has always served as an inspiration for the later struggles of the oppressed sections of society,” Mr. Vijayan said.

He said that people should support those who work for the State’s development. “The LDF government has taken the State on the path of development in the last ten years. Coastal and hill highways, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure projects are mushrooming across Kerala. Many agencies have acknowledged the State's progress. However, the Union government is trying to squeeze the State’s economy through various restrictions,” Mr. Vijayan added.

During the function, a directory on the fighters of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by handing over a copy to CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswan. The directory includes information on 1,859 participants of the Punnapra-Vayalar struggle.