Hundreds of ASHA workers from across Kerala celebrated their historic victory at the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the successful conclusion of a 266-day-long protest that shook the political landscape of the state. The celebration came days after the swearing-in of the new government, and former fellow traveler and actor Prem Kumar delivered a fiery speech at the venue, launching a scathing attack on the CPM leadership.

Addressing the gathering, Prem Kumar said the words being raised against the CPM today are all coming from those who were sidelined. He criticized the party for favouring only those who are useful to the leadership and accused it of maintaining a dual standard — one for the powerful and another for ordinary workers.

Prem Kumar revealed that during his time as a fellow traveler, he had personally requested senior leaders including CPM General Secretary M A Baby and former minister Saji Cheriyan to intervene and resolve the ASHA workers’ protest. He claimed that despite his appeals at a high-level cultural committee meeting in Kochi, his requests were brushed aside with excuses and numbers.

He made it clear that if this was about protecting positions, he could have stayed silent like many others. But he said his conscience, inspired by Jesus Christ, would not allow it. He asserted that the tears of the poor ASHA workers became the river that swept away the previous government in the election.

The actor highlighted how the previous government tried to suppress the protest using water cannons and force at the very same spot. He pointed out that the election result was a direct reply to those who ignored and mocked the ASHA workers for over 266 days of relentless struggle.

Calling the protest historic, Prem Kumar said the streets of Kerala have always been where major social movements take shape, and that this struggle too will go down in history as one that reshaped the political direction of the state.