VS Achuthanandans increasingly ugly feud with Pinarayi Vijayan seems to be resulting in the CPM going,quite literally,to the dogs in Kerala. The Chief Minister has accused a literary critic close to the CPM state secretary of describing him as a dog that defecates in its cage. Which has provoked the critic,Professor Sukumar Azhikode,to scoff at Achuthanandans understanding of literary metaphors. Given that the CM had himself used the dog metaphor in the context of 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan after being insulted by the slain NSG commandos father,it would appear that not much has changed in the six months since Mumbai controversy continues to dog Achuthanandan,still. This is what happened then. On November 30,2008,two days after Major Unnikrishnan was killed at the Taj,Achuthanandan was turned away from the commandos Bangalore home by his father who was upset at the CMs delayed show of concern. The 85-year-old leader reacted to the snub by saying that had it not been Major Unnikrishnans home,not even a dog would have glanced at it a statement that triggered national outrage,followed by an expression of regret from Prakash Karat and,finally,an apology from Achuthanandan itself. This is what has happened now. In an interview published in the latest issue of Mathrubhumi Weekly,Azhikode,Keralas so-called cultural leader,has attacked Achuthanandan for his apparent show of glee following the CPMs humiliation in the Lok Sabha elections. The Dogfight in Kerala CPM,litterateur close to Vijayan snaps at VS CMs vulgar laughter,Azhikode said,amounted to treachery. He is still in that party. Everyone has to understand that one should not defecate in his own cage, Azhikode said. Achuthanandan hit back strongly. I do not have words to react to such comments, he said. The animal that dirties its cage is the dog. Azhikode has compared me with a dog. However,my culture does not allow me to respond. I do not have the words. To which,Azhikode said in Thrissur: Achuthanandan is behaving like a wild animal,with his fangs out. He is disgorging nonsense after gulping down puerile blunders. In the interview,I was quoting from a writer,who said no bird will try to defecate within its cage. But Achuthanandan would not understand metaphors. Azhikode had earlier written an article in the party mouthpiece Deshabhimani defending the CMs arch rival Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin case. He has been backing Vijayan in the feud within the CPM. A few months ago,novelist M Mukundan had called Achuthanandan an outdated saint and described Vijayan as the leader for the times. Another Left ideologue,K E N Kunjahammed,had flayed Achuthanandans stand on the Lavalin case.
