VS keeps date with Vijayan yatra

Another crisis in the state CPM was temporarily put off when CM Achuthanandan climbed down from his defiant posture and participated in valedictory meeting.

Another crisis in the state CPIM was temporarily put off on Wednesday when Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan climbed down from his defiant posture and participated in the valedictory meeting of the partys Nava Kerala Yatra,a statewide political tour piloted by rival Pinarayi Vijayan.

After the CBI named Vijayan an accused in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin scandal,Achuthanandan wanted his removal as the state party secretary and as head of the team of leaders undertaking the yatra,a party programme.

After the partys central leadership stood by Vijayan,Achuthanandan announced he would stay away from the yatra. He also refused to inaugurate the yatra,which kicked off on February 2.

Since then,suspense had been building up in the party on whether Achuthanandan would take part in the concluding session of the yatra. Till noon on Wednesday,he kept everyone guessing. His sympathisers believed Achuthanandan would not share the dais with his tainted party secretary.

But indirect warnings from the party leadership and pressure from other constituents of the Left Democratic Front may have forced Achuthanandan to change his mind. RSP national secretary T J Chandrachoodan met him to persuade him to join the event.

Vijayan had on Tuesday warned of serious consequences if any party leader kept away from the yatra.

A section in the party feels that had Achuthanandan failed to turn up at the function,he would have stood at the risk of being hauled up by rivals. The party leadership had allowed the veteran to follow his own stand in the Lavalin issue,but it was reluctant to accept his noncompliance of the party line over the yatra,a party programme.

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While the party leadership would feel relieved by Achuthanandans appearance at the yatra function,also attended by party national general secretary Prakash Karat,the two rivals gave a glimpse of the undercurrents,indirectly attacking each other in front of a mammoth gathering.

Taking a dig at the larger-than-the-party image of Achuthanandan,Vijayan quoted an anecdote and said a leader gained support and strength only when he remained with the party.

In his speech,Achuthanandan said the CPIM was against and above corruption. He said the Lavalin case would be fought politically and legally.

Karat said the Congress has brought out the Lavalin case to wreck the CPIM. Do not use the CBI to meet political ends, he warned the Congress,an allegation the CPIM leaders made throughout the yatra.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More