Left tempts ‘Leader’ with red-carpet offer

Although the CPI-M made it clear that it will not be part of a government without going through the election rigmarole, it’s not averse to the idea of lending outside support to a Karunakaran-led government. The logic: a little help to push out an ‘‘anti-people Antony government’’ is better than suffering its consequences till 2006 when Kerala goes to polls again.

The CPI(M) line was put forth by Vijayan: ‘‘If the situation warrants, we will take positive and appropriate steps. It’s the circumstances and not the individual that matters. We will play a responsible role.’’

That is, if Karunakaran — ‘‘one of the seniormost leaders in the Congress’’— takes the plunge to oust Antony, the CPI(M)-led front will lend the support of its 40 MLAs but not be part of such a government.

With the BJP slowly eating into the CPI(M)’s once strong Ezhava-base and large numbers surrendering party membership and workers up in arms over the UDF playing havoc with their rights, the CPI(M) too does not have many options before it.

Peppering the Karunakarun cause, Vijayan said, ‘‘Anthony should resign. He has no moral or legitimate right to continue (after his handpicked candidate’s defeat). He used money, muscle, caste and communalism in the elections.’’