The proximate cause for the latest spat is the decision of the State CPI(M) committee to expel from the primary membership of the party three aides of Achuthanandan, Press Secretary K Balakrishnan, Additional Private Secretary V K Sasidharan and personal assistant A Suresh. They have been given the marching orders for ‘leaking’ secret party documents to the media.

An upset VS has conveyed his displeasure over the decision to CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and Politburo member Sitaram Yechury. Karat has reportedly asked the state leadership to defer official announcement of the decision till the completion of the next Central Committee meeting, due to be held in Kolkata from January 17 to 19.

Action against the VS aides followed the submission of a report by a two-member committee, consisting of Vaikkom Viswan and A Vijayaraghavan, set up to probe the charges against the trio. The committee reportedly found evidence to prove the charge that the trio worked with mediapersons to publish reports which tarnished the reputation of the state party leadership.

The ball is now in the court of the Central Committee, which will discuss VS’s complaint that the decision is aimed at weakening his position as the leader of the Opposition. Approval of the expulsion of the aides would have a vital bearing on the functioning of Achuthanandan as he is critically dependent on the threesome to discharge his duties as the leader of the opposition. Sasidharan, besides being in charge of the legal battles waged by VS, is also the link between him and the activist groups. Balakrishnan prepares his press releases and speeches, while Suresh ensures that the veteran CPI(M) leader takes his medicines on time and attends to his other needs, including managing crowds at public meetings.

No wonder, Achuthanandan has lodged a complaint with the central leadership. Informed sources say VS reportedly offered to quit as leader of the opposition at the state secretariat meeting.

The Kerala CPI(M) leadership would seem to have made a tactical mistake by acting against VS when the party has just launched its much-publicised land agitation. To alienate the most popular leader in the party at such a crucial juncture will do the party no good. If anything it could considerably weaken the land agitation, which was otherwise gathering momentum and having a positive impact.

Much depends on the CC decision. It remains to be seen whether the CC will allow the state leadership to go ahead with its single-minded programme of VS bashing or counsel caution in the interests of party unity.

Of course, tis is not the first time the state leadership has sought to target and clip the wings of VS. The party had expelled his confidants K M Shahjahan and Muraleedharan Nair for ‘allegedly leaked the discussions at the Malappuram conference of the party in 2005. Then K Suresh Kumar, IAS officer and a close aide of VS when he was the Chief Minister, was removed in the wake of the Munnar eviction drive. (IPA)