Pathanamthitta: Celebrations quickly turned into confrontation as newly elected CPM rebel N Lalaji marked his victory by staging a protest against what he termed official apathy towards the growing wild elephant threat in Thannithode.

While returning from the vote-counting centre after the results were declared, Lalaji, who won from Ward 14 of the Thannithode panchayat, staged a sit-in protest in front of the Thannithode Forest Office at Mundomuzhy. He accused the authorities of failing to take effective steps to address the escalating wildlife menace in the area.

Residents of the Mekkannam region have been grappling with severe hardship due to frequent incursions by stray wild elephants. Lalaji said he had raised the issue repeatedly with the Forest Department during the election campaign and had urged officials to implement concrete measures. However, with the threat continuing to intensify and no visible action forthcoming, he said he was compelled to launch the protest on Saturday.

The key demands raised included the installation of solar fencing along vulnerable forest fringes from Anjukuzhy to Thannithode, repair of damaged stretches of existing solar fencing and entrusting the maintenance of the fencing to Forest Conservation Committees (Vana Samrakshana Samithi) in Mekkannam and Thannithode.

The protest was called off after the Range Officer assured that estimates for installing solar fencing would be prepared the next day and that further action would be initiated based on directions from the Divisional Forest Officer. Forest officials will also be deployed in elephant prone areas until permanent measures are put in place.

Lalaji, however, warned that the protest would be intensified if there was any delay in initiating action by the department.