The United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition in the Kerala Assembly walked out, accusing the state police of failing to secure a conviction in the 2021 Vandiperiyar rape and murder case. The UDF alleged that coercion by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] had compromised the law enforcement’s determination to obtain a conviction in the case.
The case involved the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl from a marginalized family of tea plantation workers. In 2023, a district court dismissed the police case, leading to public outcry and accusations of succumbing to CPI(M) pressure. The Opposition criticized the government for protecting the investigating officer and claimed political interference in the case.