As CM keeps mum,Cong bats for battered VS faction

To cash in on the piquant political situation in the CPM in the aftermath of the disciplinary action against Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan,the Congress-led Opposition on Tuesday took up cudgels for the Communist veterans followers being hounded by the rival faction.

At Achuthanandans native town of Ambalapuzha in Alapuzha,scores of party activists who had taken to the streets on Monday night in protest against the action against their leader were manhandled by the local CPM leaders owing allegiance to state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. To contain the pro-VS sentiments,the party forced the police to register a case against those who took out the march,but let their assailants escape. In Thrissur district,an Achuthanandan loyalists shop was set ablaze after he took part in a protest march. Elsewhere in the state also,the CPM has deployed its muscle power to suppress the grassroots-level sentiments in favour of the demoted Politburo member. The party is also mulling action against local leaders who led the marches.

Sources said the CPM move was to create an impression that Achuthanandan,despite being the Chief Minister,could not protect his sympathisers. That strategy would help weaken his mass support,a factor deterring the party from taking tough action against the senior leader.

In the Assembly,Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan rubbed salt into the CMs wounds by pooh-poohing the attacks on his sympathisers. He said the Congress workers and those purged out from the CPM were behind the attack. The CM had no other option but to remain tightlipped over the remarks.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy said the government has to clarify why it registered the case against party activists who raised slogans in favour of VS. It is a dangerous situation,if one cannot raise a slogan for the CM,he said.