CPM in Kerala at the cross-roads

By O.J.George

There can be no love lost between Pinarayi Vijayan group and V S Achuthanandan group in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala.

That Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan has deliberately chosen to cross swords with the politburo, which had decided to whole-heartedly support the Pinarayi group’s interests in the SNC Lavalin graft issue associated with the CPM state secretary when he was power minister of the state, is proof enough for an impending fight to the finish.

There cannot be a via media. Neither the politburo nor V S Achuthanandan can go back on their stated position. And if they make a patch-up by circumventing hard facts, the party would become ludicrous in the eyes of the people.

Pinarayi group had wanted to put Achuthanandan into a corner. The only option left for him was to opt out of chief ministership, as he was driven to the wall on ideological grounds.

Apparently V S is in no mood to cave in and be a mute witness to the corruption allegations. It was the Comptroller and Auditor-General who had raised the corruption issue. The CBI had completed the investigation as per the periodic directives of the High Court.

In the circumstances, VS could not but act.