To say that the disclosures made against his elder son have severely dented the image of the CPI(M) is only to state the obvious.

True, Kodiyeri has sought formally to distance himself from his son. “Binoy will have to prove his innocence on his own. The party will not take up that responsibility or help him. This was made clear by the party general secretary too,” said Kodiyeri.

Significantly, no senior party leader criticised Kodiyeri at the meeting of the State secretariat which discussed the matter. But the party was clearly concerned about the repeated allegations against Kodiyeri’s elder son.

Incidentally, Binoy faced a travel ban in UAE, in early 2018 following the slapping of a financial fraud case against him by a local court. Binoy, however, settled the case amicably by paying the money, reportedly Rs 13 crore!

No doubt, repeated allegations against party leaders and their progeny have rattled the CPI(M) even as it has put a premium on the need to maintain probity in public life. The plenum held at Palakkad a few years ago, had come out with guidelines for the conduct of the party leaders and activists. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have taken it seriously.

The growing perception not only among the people at large but also within the party is that if the party secretary himself is unable to ensure that members of his own family adhere to the high communist values he preaches to the cadres, then he has no moral right to stay as the party boss.

It is being pointed out that CPI(M) stalwart EMS Namboodiripad and former CPI(M) State secretary Chadayan Govindan also had children. But no fingers were pointed at them over the activities of their children. The same thing cannot be said about Kodiyeri.

Significantly, former Kannur district party secretary P. Jayarajan, who seems to have fallen from grace, remarked the other day that his own children have never misused his position to make money – a thinly-veiled reference to the children of Kodiyeri and other leaders. Jayarajan’s remark has brought to the fore the simmering differences within the Kannur party.

Other top party leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have, however, extended their support to Kodiyeri. There is no need for him to resign, they opine.

Whatever the denouement, the Binoy episode has tarnished the image of the CPI(M) besides giving the opposition a powerful weapon to put the CPI(M) on the mat. It will not be easy for the CPI(M) to emerge un scathed from the political setback. The road ahead is bumpy indeed. (IPA Service)