A BJP candidate in the local body election was found dead on rail tracks at Walayar near here on Saturday morning.

The police identified the deceased as Shanmugham Chettiyar, a native of Puthussery.

Chettiyar, 60, was general secretary of the Malampuzha Assembly constituency-level committee of the BJP. He was the party candidate in ward eight of the Pudussery panchayat.

The police suspect it to be a case of suicide. The body was found on the tracks around 4.30 a.m.

The body was later taken to the District Hospital for autopsy.

"Forced to commit suicide"

Meanwhile, BJP district secretary C Krishnakumar alleged that Chettiyar was forced to commit suicide because of threats from Congress and CPI(M) candidates in the ward and their followers.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) local leaders said there was no political angle to the suicide as there were evidences to prove that Chettiyar was facing family disputes.