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Journalism of Courage
The Kerala CPI(M) is trying to use the disqualification of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha an opportunity to demonstrate the party’s resolve to fight the Sangh Parivar and its agenda.
Although the BJP is a bit player in Kerala, the steadfastness to fight against “Sangh Parivar menace” remains a permanent plank for both the CPI(M) and the Congress, because minority votes hold the key in the state. In this stage of political theatre, the CPI(M) is repeatedly heard accusing its principal rival, the Congress, of harbouring a soft-Hindutva line.
In Kerala, the CPI(M) leadership has never been soft on Rahul. The reason is not hard to understand. One of the factors that helped the Congress-led UDF bag 19 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 was Rahul contesting from Wayanad. The CPI(M) had been critical of the move at the time, saying that Rahul did not have the courage to take on the BJP in the Hindi heartland. Recently, CPI(M) leaders ridiculed Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra as a “container yatra”, and attacked him for spending “too many days in Kerala”.
A year ahead of the general elections, the Kerala CPI(M) may have backed the beleaguered leader of its principal opponent party, with a larger political agenda in mind, but at the same time, party leaders are underlining that Rahul’s disqualification again shows that the Congress is not able to tackle BJP machinations. More CPI(M) leaders in Kerala than their counterparts in the Congress have so far come out on social media condemning the incident, calling it a direct challenge to democracy and constitutional values, and saying that democracy itself is in danger.
Both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan have called Rahul’s disqualification an extension of the BJP’s concerted attacks on Opposition-ruled states.
At the same time, CPI(M) leaders have taken swipes at the Congress, for “failing to understand” the BJP’s designs, and highlighting that the Congress has in the past supported Central agencies-led probes into various scandals in Kerala under the Left regime.
CPI(M) state secretariat member M Swaraj, one of the first party leaders to react to Rahul’s disqualification, wrote in a Facebook post: “India proves that democracy is a mere word. When dissent and criticism get shackled, the footsteps of fascism can be heard.”
Swaraj, who had been at the forefront in attacking Rahul during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, added: “Even if the Congress men realise or not the depth of the crisis being faced by the country, the situation demands protest from all those who believe in democracy.”
Caught in two minds over the CPI(M)’s support tinged with such digs, Congress legislator and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan has said that the party’s support for Rahul was restricted only to social media. “Under the CPI(M) government, the police have brutally attacked Congressmen protesting against the disqualification. It was clearly meant to propitiate the BJP. The CPI(M) government has a dual agenda in Kerala. There is an understanding with the BJP even as they protest against Rahul’s disqualification,’’ he said.
The Congress state leadership has also been reiterating that it is ready for a by-election whenever one is held in Wayanad.
BJP state president K Surendran has in turn attacked the CPI(M) and Congress for “coming together” on the Rahul disqualifcation issue. “A CPI(M)-Congress alliance has come into being in Kerala. The CPI(M) is saying that that party is ready to fight for Rahul. Then, both the Congress and CPI(M) should unitedly fight the elections in Wayanad,” he said.
