A big political storm has hit Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, Kerala. The trouble started after the block panchayat president election. There are serious claims that CPI(M) offered ₹50 lakh to an Independent member backed by IUML to vote for the LDF. A phone call has gone viral. It seems to feature E.U. Jaffer, the IUML-supported Independent member from Thali division. The clip talks about the money offer before the election. The call was between Mr. Jaffer and Varavur Mandalam Congress president A.A. Musthafa, just a day before the vote. In the audio, Mr. Jaffer says choosing the UDF would only lead to a tie and give him nothing. But voting for the LDF could get him either the president’s post or ₹50 lakh. He says, "Here, it’s not one or two rupees. The offer is ₹50 lakh." He adds, "Block panchayat president is power. Do you even know what that power means? If I sit in the chair without doing anything, that itself is enough. I’m trying to set my life. An option has come my way, and I want to use it to the maximum." Mr. Musthafa said he has proof of this offer and challenged CPI(M), "Let the CPI(M) prove that this audio is fake. If they have the courage, they should dissolve the board and face a fresh election." The Congress shared the audio with the media. Then, former MLA Anil Akkara filed a complaint with the Vigilance department. A preliminary investigation has started. This case is important because the Wadakkanchery block panchayat was tied. Both LDF and UDF had seven seats. UDF accused LDF of trying to "poach" the IUML-backed member to win control. During the president’s election, Mr. Jaffer voted for the LDF candidate. He skipped the vice-president’s vote, which helped LDF take both posts. Soon after, Mr. Jaffer resigned and reportedly went into hiding. CPI(M) secretary M.V. Govindan denied the allegations. Speaking in Kozhikode, he said, "We have no need to buy a seat by paying ₹50 lakh. Horse-trading is not the CPI(M)’s style."