The ways of Communist Party changing

By O.J.George

CPM’s rigidity about divulging details of issues discussed by the party seems to be in for a change. Now even politburo members are speaking out more than they used to earlier.

The rule was that when the majority takes a view, the minority in the committees of the party should toe the line. If they have difference of opinion that should not be talked about in public.

That policy is changing, apparently because those who speak out have their own spheres of influence among the people. Now what Prakash Karat, the national general secretary of the party, says is not the last word.

Karat said the other day that the letters purported to have been written by former PB member E.Balanandan, who died recently, were fabricated. There were no such letters sent to him.

Now Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has revealed that the letter issue would also form part of the agenda he would be discussing with the politburo on February 14.

Which means Achuthanandan is not prepared to concede the version of Karat.

Not even 48 hours remain for the convening of the full-fledged politburo meeting. Everyone is curious about the outcome of the PB meeting, which could be disastrous for the party if V S Achuthanandan decides to fall apart.

If Karat proceeds according to the already decided path, there would be a vertical split in the party in Kerala. If V S cannot tolerate the line adopted by Karat, which is fully in conformity with the Pinarayi Vijayan faction, the body language of VS as understood as of now suggests that he would part ways.

Maybe some of the politburo members would try to arrive at a settlement. Try hard as they might, it would be difficult to appease Achuthanandan on the issues held dear by him. D-day February 14, political news would come out.