PALAKKAD: The ongoing battle of wits between the young Congress legislator and ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM) over the former’s remark on the late legendary Communist leader AK Gopalan, popularly known as AKG, took a turn for the worse when the MLA was assaulted on Wednesday. VT Balram, MLA, who was addressing a function at Koottnad, near here, sustained a minor injury on the forehead during the assault. CPIM workers threw eggs and stones at Balram.

When the MLA reached the venue, protesters hurled stones at him. His Innova Car was damaged in the stone pelting.

He was immediately rushed to a hospital in nearby Edappal. Police resorted to baton charge to disperse CPIM workers.

UDF supporters created a human shield to protect their leader.

Following the incident, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) called for a hartal (strike) in Thrithala assembly constituency on Thursday in protest against the violence.

The outspoken young leader had courted controversy last week after he made unsavoury remarks against the Communist icon, triggering widespread criticism including from his own party leaders like former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and party chief MM Hasan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, veteran Communist leader VS Achuthanandan, CPIM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan were among those who unleashed criticism on Balram.

A many time Lok Sabha MP, Gopalan was widely admired for his pro-poor political activism. He is known as ‘crusader of the downtrodden’. He also made his mark as an excellent parliamentarian, who also served as the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In a Facebook post last week, Balram had raised some questions regarding AKG’s relations with his wife Suseela Gopalan when she was only 13 years old. He also posted the copy of a newspaper article and some pages of AKG’s autobiography to ‘‘justify’ his comments.