In the process, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders - especially CPI(M) Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan - have once again, exposed their propensity to score a self-goal while they are in the thick of a crucial election battle.

It all began with Pinarayi’s remark at a press conference that the resolution censuring leader of the opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan, adopted by the Alappuzha State conference of the party, was still valid! And it has no bearing on the stalwart’s nomination as the party’s candidate for the May 16 Assembly elections!

This was nothing but a god-send for the beleaguered UDF, which had till then been struggling to fend off questions on the Government’s corruption and various scams bedevelling its five-year rule.

A grateful KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and other Congress leaders pounced on the opportunity in no time to put the CPI(M) on the defensive. Sudheeran saw in the Pinarayi remark the sign of a major crisis brewing in the CPI(M). The CPI(M) leaders are unable to stop fighting even during a crucial electoral combat, added the KPCC president. This was also a sign of the sectarianism plaguing the CPI(M), Sudheeran said.

Sensing the damage caused by his remark, Vijayan embarked upon a quick damage-control mission. He blamed the media for distorting his remark. He had never called VS an anti-party leader, and it was the media which was trying to create a wedge between us, Vijayan claimed in a weak defence.

Contrast this with the dignified manner in which VS handled the sensitive issue. It must be mentioned that the timing of Vijayan’s remark was also most untimely. It came a day before VS was to undertake a campaign for Pinarayi at Dharmadom in Kannur district, from where the latter is contesting. To the relief of party cadres and leaders, VS avoided making any mention on the issue at his speech in which he requested the huge crowd to ensure Vijayan a big majority.

But VS did have a dig at Vijayan through the Facebook. LDF leaders should be extremely careful while making comments that may create controversies. He softened it up with a further post on the Facebook with the remark that all discussions on the issue must end with Vijayan’s clarification.

The unfortunate episode also revealed the changing equations within the CPI(M). For once, Politburo member M. A. Baby, a leader once close to Vijayan, minced no words when he said that this was not the time to discuss the resolution against VS. The party must ensure single-minded focus on the paramount task of winning the election, Baby added, in a statement clearly critical of Vijayan’s indiscreet remark.

The episode also saw a forceful intervention by CPI(M ) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, who tweeted to VS, saying that the party must face the elections in a united manner. VS quickly tweeted back: “We shall march for a great victory”.

There is no denying that the unfortunate episode has left a trail of bitterness and confusion in its wake. Thanks to the intervention of Yechury and the dignified manner in which VS handled it all, the crisis has been averted. But, it must be said, it was a totally uncalled forf remark on the part of Vijayan which nearly triggered a major crisis.

That a seasoned leader like Vijayan failed to see the trap laid by UDF-friendly mediapersons is, to say the least, surprising. He could have avoided giving any reply to the loaded question. That he did not choose to do so speaks for itself. Compare this with the way VS handled the media. He was supposed to address a press conference on the morning of the day he was to campaign in Vijayan’s constituency. But the shrewd politician, sensing trouble, cancelled the press meet! He also refused to answer questions from mediapersons throughout the day, and confined himself to a remark on Facebook!

But this is not the first time that Vijayan has embarrassed party leaders and cadres alike. Prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Vijayan had made an uncharitable remark against RSP candidate, N. K. Premachandran who contested against CPI(M ) candidate M A Baby from the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency. That single remark was one of the main reasons for Baby’s embarrassing defeat. Even CPI(M) leaders disapproved of Vijayan’s remark against Premachandran.

As if this was not enough, Vijayan’s statement that the party “will think about what Yechury said when we declare our liquor policy”, also left CPI(M) leaders red-faced. The CPIM() general secretary had said earlier that if the LDF came to power, none of the closed bars will be reopened.

That had taken the wind out of the sails of UDF leaders, who had managed to put the LDF on the defensive accusing them of groping in the dark about their liquor policy. Vijayan’s statement showed, UDF leaders claimed, that the CPI(M) was ambivalent on the issue of reopening of the closed bars. The UDF leaders had also managed, in the process, to shift the focus from the Oommen Chandy Government’s scams and corruption.

Once again, VS intervened promptly to say that the LDF’s liquor policy was what Yechury said the other day. Achuthanandan emphatically ruled out reopening the bars closed by the UDF Government.

The episode underscores the urgent need for the LDF leaders to bring the focus back on UDF Government’s corruption and various scams which marked its five-year rule. That alone will put the UDF on the defensive. Most importantly, Pinarayi and company must strictly avoid the temptation to have an occasional dig at VS. Vijayan should also, in a graceful return of compliments, visit VS’s constituency to campaign for the stalwart. That would send a positive message to the party cadres, also effectively sealing the vicious propaganda by VS detractors that a Mararikulam-type defeat was awaiting the veteran at Malampuzha. It may be mentioned that VS had lost the election from Mararikulam in an earlier Assembly election while the LDF won the poll. That Yechury has taken the vicious propaganda seriously is clear from the fact that he has himself decided to address meetings in VS’s constituency. (IPA Service)