In a highly significant directive which could have a decisive bearing on CPI(M)’s future political direction, the Central Committee has directed its state units not to have any truck with religious, casteist and community organizations. The central leadership has also directed the state units, including Kerala, to actively take up people’s issues to firm up the party’s strength. That way alone can the party strengthen its vote base, asserts the directive.

The directive clearly vindicates the stance of Achuthanandan, who has been ploughing a lonely furrow in CPI(M) politics, by demanding the formulation of such a strategy .

It may be mentioned that VS has firmly opposed the move by the official leadership of the Kerala unit to forge an understanding with the AP Sunnis faction led by Kanthapuram Abubacker Musaliyar. Recently, two LDF MLAs, PTA Rahim and K T. Jaleel held a meeting with Musaliyar to explore the possibilities of a tie-up with the AP Sunnis faction. The idea was to prepare the ground for a meeting between Kanthapuram and CPI(M) state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and former state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan. However, the move has been dropped in view of the latest developments, including VS’s strong opposition to it. Obviously, the CC decision has been influenced by VS’s strong antipathy to the Pinarayi-Kodiyeri move.

The AP faction, which had supported the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 2011 Assembly elections, has drifted away from the UDF camp following non-implementation of its pressing demands.

VS is on record that tie-ups with religious, casteist and community organizations have always weakened the CPI(M). In his ‘complaint’ to the central leadership, VS has drawn its attention to the setbacks the party had suffered in the past because of its understanding with extremist organizations like the Abdul Nasser Madani-led People’s Democratic Party(PDP) besides moves to become close to the Muslim League. VS had also frowned upon the Kerala leadership’s concerted efforts to woo Kerala Congress(M) chief and Finance Minister, K. M. Mani in the past. VS is of the firm view that any move to have tie-ups with such outfits would damage the democratic and secular image of the CPI(M).

VS has pointed out that whenever the CPI(M) has avoided such opportunistic and anti-people alliances, it has notched up handsome electoral dividends. In support of his argument, he cites the spectacular victory the CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) scored in the 1987 state assembly elections. The clear emergence of the ‘VS line’, whose architect was none other than the great EMS Namboodiripad is being construed as a welcome development by the supporters of the LDF and other forces with pronounced leftist leanings.

Conversely, the CC fiat represents a severe setback to the Kerala CPI(M)’s official leadership. The ‘official’ move has, again, been thwarted by the forceful stand taken by VS, wose proximity to CPI(M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury is well known. The firm CC directive, it is being argued, will further weaken the hold of the ‘Kannur lobby’ led by former state party secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan.

The central leadership’s decision has come against the backdrop of the CPI(M)’s strained relations with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the representative organization of the Ezhava community, which is trying to have an understanding with the BJP in the State. The directive, it would seem, stems from the firm conviction that the best way to counter the growing BJP influence in ‘secular’ Kerala is to take up issues affecting the people and oppose the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre. (IPA Service)