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Assembly elections : CPI(M) faces split in Kerala |
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Till a few days back, the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front in Kerala was upbeat on the prospects of ousting the Congress-led United Democratic Front from power in the coming Assembly elections in the state. But the CPI(M) prospects have been dented by the crisis in the party over who should be its nominee as the next Chief Minister. Supporters of the leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan are on a warpath in the state after the party politburo struck off his name as the Chief Minister post-election. In a big blow to the party’s image of being a disciplined organisation, party workers are taking out pro-Achhutanandan rallies across the state.
The politburo at its meeting last week decided not to nominate either Achuthanandan or state party secretary Vijayan as the chief-ministerial candidate. Instead, it projected the non-controversial LDF convener. Paloli Mohd. Kutti for the Chief Minister’s post.
According to reports, Achuthanandan walked out of the state committee meeting, having said a big no to party general secretary Prakash Karat’s suggestion to lead the campaign. There are reasons to believe that he may choose to part ways with the party, although all senior Politburo members have reportedly scrambled to pacify him. Karat described the situation in the state as grave. “At this rate, a split cannot be ruled out,” is how a senior leader summed up the explosive scenario.
After the state committee meeting, supporters of both camps started flooding mobiles with malicious SMSes while satiric posters have come up against Vijayan and VS. Vijayan has been dubbed “Pana Rayi” (filthy rich) for his “pro-reform image” The latest power scam is also fodder for the smear campaign. Achuthanandan is “Durguna Nandanan (epitome of evil) in this poster war and he is pilloried for his “anti-development stand.”
The unexpected developments in the Marxist camp have raised hopes in the ruling UDF. The newfound proximity of senior leader K. Karunakaran - who was left in the cold by the Left - to the Congress has also loaded the dice in the UDF favour.
The CPI(M) politburo is expected to meet early this week in a bid to paper over the cracks in the Kerala unit of the party. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said in New Delhi that a special meeting of the politburo has been called to resolve the issue. Asked if the treatment meted out to Achuthanandan was fair, Basu said, “I would not comment. But I am not in favour of anybody being dumped.”
The crisis, however, is far from over. The dominant Pinarayi faction in the CPI(M), is in no mood to make room for Achuthanandan and has kept him out of the candidates’ list.
And the politburo cannot intercede on behalf of the octogenarian leader given Pinaray’s clout in the state committee. The only consolation for the veteran is perhaps the support that he has elicited. Such is the emotional high that a section of Left intellectuals and cadres have even urged Achuthanandan to give up all posts to lead a popular movement against the “pro-capitalist” policies being pursued by the state party leadership. If sources are to be believed, Achuthanandan is smarting and is biding his time. Party general secretary Prakash Karat has reportedly asked him not to issue any statement till the politburo meeting.
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