For the second time in five years, VS had the Polit Bureau rush to his rescue after his rivals made a determined attempt to dump him in the political dustbin by denying a ticket to contest the upcoming assembly elections. It is an astonishing feat which enables him to walk into the Guinness Book of World Records. For, never before has any communist leader – not only in India but anywhere in the world – been saved from political oblivion by the party’s highest body, not once but twice within the span of five years!

In 2006 also, VS was denied a ticket by the party. But there is a subtle difference. While it was the PB which first denied him a chance to contest the assembly elections and then reversed that decision in 2006, in 2011, the PB intervened to change the disastrous decision made by the Kerala committee of the CPI(M) not to allow VS to enter the electoral race.

VS was first denied a ticket, this time round, by the State secretariat and state committee of the Kerala CPI(M) on the ground that majority of the district committees were against letting him contest the assembly elections! If the state committee had succeeded in having its way, it could have proved electorally disastrous for the Kerala CPI(M) in particular and the Left Democratic Front headed by it in general.

Like in 2006, the decision touched off a wave of anger and revulsion among the party’s rank and file. But there was a significant difference. Unlike in 2006, when the pro-VS demonstrations were orchestrated and state-managed by some leaders who supported him, this time around, it was a spontaneous expression of indignation and the party activists themselves took to the streets to voice their sense of outrage at the decision of the state committee. The intensity of the pro-VS protest marches came as a surprise not only to the VS supporters but also to the official wing of the party headed by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

Most importantly, the state committee meeting also saw even such staunch Pinarayi loyalists as Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, Education Minister M A Baby, Health Minister PK Sreemathi and senior party leader M V Jayarajan express their view at the risk of incurring the wrath of the party chief, that VS should contest. Of course, Vijayan refused to oblige them in a mulishly obstinate stance, which he was to reverse within twenty-four hours.

The political drama began with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat announcing in the national capital that Buddhadeb Bhattacharya would lead the party in the West Bengal Assembly elections. But the decision on the candidature of VS would be taken by the Kerala committee. The message to VS was loud and clear: your opponents within the state unit are out with the knives, and you have to defend yourself; don’t expect us to save you this time.

Taking the cue from Karat’s statement, the state unit of the party moved with lightning speed with the ‘Operation VS demolition’. In an unprecedented move, the opinion of district committees, in which Pinarayi has a brute majority, was sought on VS’s candidature. There was no doubt as to the outcome. The DCs sent in their list without the name of VS. Only the Kasargode DC opined that the uncertainty over VS should end and that he should be allowed to contest.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and PB member S Ramachandran Pillai rushed to Kerala to attend the state committee meeting. Although they had been told to convey to the state committee the wish of the PB that VS should contest, for reasons best known to them, the duo remained mute spectators to the state committee decision which kept VS out of the poll fray instead of informing them of the PB’s sentiments on the issue. It is an offence serious enough to attract disciplinary action. Reports have it that Prakash and Pillai failed to speak up in the state committee because both Pinarayi and Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in a meeting with them prior to the state committee meeting strongly opposed giving a ticket to VS. The vehemence of their opposition made Karat and SRP remain silent at the meeting, it is being pointed out.

Stunned by the turn of events, a dazed VS excused himself out of the contest on grounds of ill-health, which Vijayan said was the reason why VS opted out! Achuthanandan left AKG Bhavan, his dignity affronted and self-esteem savaged.

But then came the twist in the script. The joy of VS detractors proved short-lived.

Worried over the developments, the available PB of the CPI(M) met on Wednesday evening and again on Thursday morning to review the situation. In an unprecedented move, the PB pulled up both Karat and S Ramachandran Pillai for botching up their Kerala mission.

The PB members reportedly opined that had they firmly conveyed to the state secretariat and state committee the PB’s pro-VS feelings, the confusion, the spontaneous outburst of anger and the resultant protest marches could have been avoided. The general perception in the state is that both Karat and Pillai have emerged in poor light from the unfortunate episode.

For sheer tactlessness also, the decision against Achuthanandan was hard to beat. It was further blemished by a poor sense of timing as well. Instead of showing an unseemly hurry to go for VS’s jugular, the official wing of the party should have cashed in on VS’s phenomenal popularity to retain power in the state and waited for elections to be over to ‘settle their scores’.

Be that as it may, the PB’s directive has virtually pulled the Kerala unit of the party from the brink and galvanised the rank and file who had been demoralised and enraged by the ‘politics of vendetta’ being pursued by the ‘Kannur lobby’ within the Kerala CPI(M) led by Pinarayi.

Full credit to the PB members who refused to yield to Vijayan’s intransigence. Among the PB members who threw their full weight behind VS were Sitaram Yechury, Brinda Karat, K. Varadarajan, MK Pandhe, Manik Sarkar, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Biman Bose and Nirupam Sen. They redeemed its reputation and asserted its authority diminished by Prakash Karat. Needless to say, the adequate amends made by the PB is sure to infuse new life into the party’s electoral campaign in the coming days.

VS’s reemergence as the leader of the LDF has forced the UDF on to the backfoot. The perception that it would be a cakewalk for the UDF in the assembly polls has become a thing of the past. VS changed that impression and put the LDF back in the reckoning. Poll pundits who had earlier given the UDF upwards of 100 out of the 140 setas, revised their estimates. Some of them forecast it would be a close fight in the changed circumstances and that that LDF may give the UDF a real run for its money by putting up a good performance.

In sheer desperation, the UDF leaders had targeted VS and his son, Arun Kumar in a counter offensive. But, here again, VS outsmarted them all by handing over the written complaints against his son made by Mr Chandy to the Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan for an enquiry by the Lok Ayukta.

All these positive actions by VS have raised his stock among the people and his popularity has gone up by several notches. It was the realisation of the importance of the VS factor in Kerala politics which influenced the PB’s decision to allow him to contest the elections and lead the LDF once again. But Karat and Pillai almost bungled it; but the last-minute intervention by the PB has undone the damage to a great extent.

Whatever the outcome, the CPI(M) politics would never be the same again with VS emerging stronger from the episode. Experts also opine that the equations within the Kerala unit of the CPI(M) could change if the LDF manages to retain power – a possibility which cannot be ruled out - or even if it puts up a reasonably good show in the poll battle.

The turn of events constitute a major setback to Kerala CPI(M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and his hardcore supporters. Hopefully, the state party leaders will learn appropriate lessons from the events and put an end to internecine sectarianism, which has been the bane of the Kerala unit of the CPI(M). (IPA Service)