The latest to come out with a statement which has kicked up a raging controversy is CPI(M) State secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. That such an ‘inflammable speech’ has come from Kodiyeri, who is not given to making prickly pronouncements or verbal bombast, is a surprise. But his statement while addressing a party meeting at Payyannur has dented Kodiyeri’s image as a soft-spoken and mature political leader.

Unsurprisingly, Opposition leaders have promptly pounced on the statement to denounce the CPI(M) leaders. A delegation of the BJP’s state leaders led by national executive member P K Krishnadas met the state police chief urging him to file a case against Kodiyeri for what they called an open call to armed rebellion. Likewise, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, V M Sudheeran has also demanded registration of a case against Kodiyeri, saying that the latter had openly challenged the law and order in the state. Other Congress leaders like Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy have added their voice to the chorus of condemnation.

In the speech which has created a controversy, Kodiyeri asked the CPI(M) cadres not to remain mere spectators to attacks made by political rivals like the BJP and the RSS. BJP state president, Kummanam Rajasekharan in on record that Kodiyeri’s statement amounts to incitement of party cadres to resort to violence against political rivals, adding that it was indicative of what is in store for the people in Kerala under the LDF rule.

Unfortunate as the Kodiyeri statement is, BJP leaders in the state have not exactly covered themselves with glory either by speaking in the same language. If the CPI(M) cadres do not stop attacking BJP/RSS workers, there would be bloodshed in the state, warned Kummanam and former BJP State chief V Muraleedharan.

Significantly, although CPI(M)’s allies like the CPI, the Janata Dal(S), the Congress(S) and the NCP have not reacted to the Kodiyeri speech so far, they must be feeling uneasy over the slew of controversial statements emanating from the CPI(M) leaders. It may be mentioned that the CPI ministers had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan recently to convey their unhappiness over his legal adviser MK Damodaran appearing on behalf of controversial persons like Lottery King Santiago Martin and others of the same ilk and in cases against the government. True, the CPI leaders have remained tight-lipped on the Kodiyeri statement. But it is not difficult to divine their unease over the controversial speeches being made by CPI(M ) leaders.

Ironically, CPI(M) leaders like Pinarayi Vijayan and Kodiyeri themselves have come out with statements in the past counselling restraint on CPI(M) leaders and activists in the face of provocation from BJP/RSS leaders and cadres. The party activists must not walk into the trap being set by the party’s political rivals. That was the crux of the CPI(M) leaders’ statements. That the same leaders have now come out with provocative speeches is, to say the least, regrettable and unfortunate.

Mention must also be made here of the set of guidelines the CPI(M)’s plenum held at Palakkad in the past which prepared a virtual code of conduct for the CPI(M) leaders and cadres. An essential component of the guidelines was the need to avoid making provocative speeches and statements and to extend courtesies to political rivals. Unfortunately, Kodiyeri’s speech is a blatant violation of the spirit of the plenum guidelines.

The need for the CPI(M) leaders to exercise restraint in future cannot be over-emphasised. Failure to do so would only add to the opposition’s propaganda mill that the CPI(M) has not given up the politics of violence and murder. That is a luxury the Pinarayi government, which has come to power promising good governance cannot afford. The CPI(M) must avoid the path of provocation and violence and focus fully on the development agenda which it has offered to the people of Kerala. (IPA Service)