Kerala CPI(M) draws the line, snaps ties with MLA who took on CM Vijayan

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan Friday told reporters in New Delhi that Anvar was not willing to “correct himself”. “He abandoned his status as a member of the CPI(M) parliamentary party. The party has severed its ties with Anvar. He remains an independent legislator,” he said.

The two-time legislator, once a darling of the CPI(M), had last month unleashed a political storm in the state by raising allegations against Vijayan’s political secretary, P Sasi, and the Additional Director General of Police (law and secretary) M R Ajith Kumar on matters related to the Home Department, which is under the chief minister.

The issue snowballed as the Congress-led Opposition targeted Vijayan for allegedly “shielding” the senior IPS officer, who had held meetings with national RSS leaders.

The CPI(M) as well as the chief minister had rejected Anvar’s demand to shunt out Sasi and Ajith Kumar.

Anvar told reporters in Nilambur on Friday: “I have always been outside the party. The ship (party) is going to sink. I was trying to convince them about it. From now… I am not afraid of anyone. I will be answerable to the people only.”

Govindan said: “He has turned into a weapon in the hands of right-wing political parties and media, which are out to damage the party and the government. All those who love the CPI(M) should come out against this approach of Anvar, who does not have any idea about the party or its organisational set-up.”

Soon after Govindan’s remarks, CPI(M) workers hit the streets in Malappuram district, including Anvar’s Nilambur constituency, to protest against the leader. The workers raised slogans and burned Anvar’s effigy. Party workers took out similar protests elsewhere in Kerala, too.

Anvar has been representing Nilambur since 2016. The CPI(M) had fielded him as a party-backed independent in the constituency, which had been held by Congress heavyweight Aryadan Muhammed for more than three decades. The experiment with Anvar, a former Congress leader, helped CPI(M) wrest the seat.

Govindan said Anvar could not become a member of the party despite his long years of association. “The government has entrusted the state police chief to look into the complaints raised by him. Besides, three politburo members of the party also assured him that his grievances will be looked into. Yet, he went to the media violating the discipline,” said Govindan.

A month back, Anvar had described the CM’s political secretary as a “total failure” and dubbed him as a “confidant who lands the chief minister in trouble”. He had also alleged that ADGP (law and order) Ajith Kumar had connived with the RSS to spoil this year’s Thrissur Pooram, eventually contributing to the BJP’s win in the Lok Sabha election from the Thrissur seat.

Vijayan’s confidant Sasi is the main link between the party and the government, mainly in matters relating to the Home Department.

The CPI(M)’s partner in the ruling LDF alliance, CPI, had also taken up Anvar’s allegation that ADGP Ajith Kumar had conspired with the RSS to spoil the Thrissur Pooram.