Thiruvananthapuram | Former CPI (M) leader G Sudhakaran, who won from Ambalapuzha assembly seat with UDF backing, on Tuesday alleged that a majority of the state's intellectuals were "toe-lickers" of political parties and that drug abuse was "destroying" a section of the youth in the state.

Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's policy address in the state assembly, Sudhakaran said the standards of Kerala's cultural sphere were declining.

"Most intellectuals are toe-lickers of political parties and are trying to gain something for themselves. A section of the younger generation is being ruined by the consumption of ganja and charas," he alleged.

Earlier, when members of the ruling UDF front applauded portions of his speech, Sudhakaran reminded them that he was an independent legislator and not speaking to win applause.

"I am not saying these things to earn applause. I am an Independent MLA," the Ambalapuzha legislator said.

A former Public Works Department minister, Sudhakaran quit the CPI(M) ahead of the April 9 Assembly elections, contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Ambalapuzha constituency and won.