Political killings peaked in Kannur and other parts of Kerala in the run-up to the state election in May.
A CPM activist and a BJP worker were hacked to death on Monday night in fresh political violence in Kerala's Kannur.
CPM leader Dhanaraj was killed just outside his home in Payyannur by attackers who came on three bikes. The activist was attacked when he was about to enter his house at around 10.30 pm.
The CPM alleges that the attackers were BJP supporters.
About an hour later, an auto-rickshaw driver said to be a BJP supporter was murdered in the same area by a group of six. CK Ramachandran was stabbed to death.
The police say this was a retaliatory killing and the attackers have been identified.
Both victims have two young children.
Political killings peaked in Kannur and other parts of Kerala in the run-up to the state election in May.
There were over a 1,000 cases of poll-related violence across the state, most of them in Kannur.
Around 30 people from various political parties have been killed in Kerala between 2011 and 2016.
The CPM has called for a strike in Kannur. Clashes have been reported since last night in the district and homes of CPM and BJP supporters have been attacked.