Antony-Left spat may hurt Cong

He had made similar charges a couple of days ago. In response, the CPI(M) Politburo had asserted that Antony was beleaguered by ‘‘sharp differences within his party’’ and ‘‘the series of charges and accusations’’ emanating from him ‘‘have the ring of desperation and of a person who protests too much’’.

At the same time, the CPI(M) made it clear it would resolutely fight the Antony-led UDF government, adding, ‘‘There is no need for any conspiracy on the part of the CPI(M) and the LDF to topple Antony. His own deeds are proving to be his undoing.’’

Speaking to The Indian Express, CPI(M) politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai said the party was not involved in any conspiracy but had openly declared that it wanted to see Antony go. The CPI(M) was not responsible for the growing factionalism in the Congress but as an Opposition party, would definitely take advantage of the situation.

Apart from this being the Opposition’s ‘‘natural duty’’, there were many political and policy issues that made Antony anathema to the Left,

Pillai said. Describing the Antony regime as the ‘‘worst-ever government in Kerala’’, Pillai said he was trying to revive ‘‘anti-communism’’ to fight the LDF and had brought together all ‘‘caste and communal forces to defeat us’’.

Accusing him of appeasing both minority and majority communalism in the state, Pillai said Antony had also unleashed ‘‘ferocious repression’’, ruthlessly beaten up CPI(M) MLAs and workers, and ushered in anti-labour laws.

On all these questions, Karunakaran and his son Muraleedharan had taken a different stand. They have repeatedly stressed that anti-communism has no relevance in the present political situation in India and have also criticised Antony’s policy of communal appeasement, the CPI(M) leader said.

On Antony’s charge that the CPI(M) was only helping the BJP by taking on the Congress in Kerala in the run-up to the crucial Assembly polls, Pillai said: ‘‘We believe it is the strength of the Left that can ward off the BJP, and strengthening the CPI(M) in Kerala helps the process of strengthening the secular forces at the national-level.’’

In other words, the Congress central leadership should not take the CPI(M)’s support for granted as it has in recent times. The CPI(M) views the BJP as a greater enemy, but that does not mean it will give up traditional opposition to the Congress in strongholds. In fact, if the Congress high command does not step in soon, the Antony-CPI(M) face-off could lead to a revival of fervent anti-Congressism within the CPI(M).

The Congress central leadership is learnt to be persuading Karunakaran — who has demanded an early convening of the Assembly for a test of strength — to keep matters ‘‘on hold’’ till elections are over. But no moves have been made so far to deescalate the Antony-CPI(M) war, sources said.