Wayanad DCC ex-treasurer’s daughter-in-law attempts suicide, alleges party reneged on promise to clear family liabilities

Padmaja, daughter-in-law of former Wayanad DCC treasurer N. M. Vijayan — who reportedly took his own life amid mounting debts incurred during fundraising for the Congress — attempted suicide on Saturday, alleging that the party broke its promise to settle the family’s liabilities from Vijayan’s tenure.

Padmaja tried to end her life by cutting a vein in her hand and was admitted to a private hospital in Sultan Bathery. Police said her condition is not serious. A suicide note was recovered; it reads, “You, murderer Congress, here is another victim for you.”

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On Friday, Padmaja criticised the Congress leadership at a press conference, saying the party had failed to honour promises made after N. M. Vijayan’s suicide. She alleged that KPCC leaders did not fulfill the assurances given to the family following the death of her father-in-law.

Padmaja said the family had lost faith in the Congress. She claimed the family faced liabilities totalling ₹2.5 crore and accused party leaders of repeatedly promising to clear the debts while failing to do so. “The party leadership has been cheating the family by saying it will clear the liabilities,” she said, adding that a complaint would be filed with the Chief Minister.

She also alleged that MLA T. Siddique had signed an agreement promising payment to settle the family’s liabilities. “Siddique got angry when I went to the lawyer to obtain the agreement,” she said.

“Congress kills those who work honestly. Thieves walk around with impunity, and those who trust the party die. Congress’s generosity is no longer needed,” Padmaja said.

“So far, the Congress has given ₹20 lakh. The family estimates its liability at ₹2.5 crore. Leaders had promised Vijayan’s family that the financial liability would be settled as soon as possible,” she added.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph responded to Padmaja’s suicide attempt by saying the party has been helping N. M. Vijayan’s family but expressed doubt about being able to meet all their demands immediately. “The party is helping them on the basis of generosity; there is no contractual obligation. The Congress wants to do everything they demand but does not have the money for it right now,” Sunny Joseph said.

Former Wayanad DCC treasurer N. M. Vijayan and his son Jijesh (38), a former employee of the Sultan Bathery Urban Co-operative Bank, died — allegedly by suicide — after being found in critical condition at their residence on December 24; they succumbed at Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, on December 27, 2024.

Before his death, Vijayan had written six letters. One was addressed to his son; others were directed to several Congress leaders including Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, former MP Rahul Gandhi, V. D. Satheesan, K. Sudhakaran and the police.

The suicide notes, which the family released in January 2025, placed the Congress leadership in Kerala under scrutiny. The notes reportedly alleged large debts, incidents of bribery at the cooperative bank, and that Vijayan felt ignored by party leaders during his crisis despite his long service to the party. One letter to former KPCC president K. Sudhakaran named MLA I. C. Balakrishnan and alleged he had taken money for appointments in various cooperative banks.

In his letter, Vijayan described amounts collected from candidates for appointments in Congress-ruled cooperative banks and named Congress leaders who, he alleged, received those funds, including I. C. Balakrishnan, N. D. Appachan and K. K. Gopinathan. He also mentioned loans he had taken to repay those amounts. Vijayan said he wished the note to be handed to party leaders and instructed his son to wait ten days and then give it to the Wayanad district police chief.

The letter reportedly also stated that Vijayan provided collateral for a ₹10 lakh loan taken by Appachan, which led to legal proceedings. Reports indicate Vijayan had liabilities of about ₹1.5 crore across different banks.

“I have taken a loan of ₹7 lakh to repay bribe money for an appointment at the Sultan Bathery Urban Co-operative Bank and to meet expenses for several party activities on the instructions of I. C. Balakrishnan. My financial liabilities were not known to my family. I did not want my son’s family to suffer. If I had revealed these matters while alive, I could not bear to see the party insulted. However, the party has not taken any step to solve my financial crisis. Therefore, if I die due to mental pressure, the persons I mentioned should be held responsible,” Vijayan wrote in his note.

The note also alleges that Vijesh (sic) was dismissed from his bank job to make way for another candidate favoured by Balakrishnan, and that leaders took loans from the Sultan Bathery Urban Co-operative Bank in his name.