Suresh Kurup and Jose.K.Mani have namesakes in fray

Kottayam: Fielding namesakes of rivals in the electoral fray has been a crucial tactic employed sometimes. Last time V M Sudheeran had to bite the dust in Alappuzha ostensibly because of the presence of another Sudheeran who fetched far more votes than the victory margin of Dr K S Manoj.

Finding an alter ego, with the same name, is not that easy. But this time in Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency, rivals of Jose.K.Mani of of the Kerala Congress (Mani) group could find a person with the same name. His father’s name was also the same, K M Mani, as that of the real Mani Sir. This other Jose K Mani is a small time functionary in Delhi, belonging to Upputhode in Idukki district. After filing nomination papers, the dual Jose K Mani flew back to Delhi and is not heard any more.

For some time, people thought Mani has been cornered. CPM’s K.Suresh Kurup has another of the same name. The dual K.Suresh Kurup came from Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad. One K.Suresh Kumar and another T R Suresh Kumar also filed nomination papers.

Expectations too much, dismay for those discarded

By O J George

Lok Sabha election camp is getting active. Thank God the actual campaign is limited to a fortnight. In olden days, campaign spread to two months. Candidates and campaign managers were at their wit’s end.

Now a lot of people are frustrated for not getting nomination. Expectations have been belied. CPM replaced many of the incumbent MPs for personal interests, it seems. Janata Dal and RSP did not get any seat. PDP and BJP rebels got indirect entry into the side-walks of the LDF. Janata Dal is out. It seems a split is the natural corollary of the goings-on in Janata Dal.

Congress hands are not a happy lot. Hibi Eden was cocksure about getting a seat in Ernakulam. But K V Thomas was prepared to give up his fiefdom.

Inernational Sasi Tharoor could have squeezed through indirectly to the Rajya Sabha.But he scuttled the prospects other locals.

Pathanamthitta always had the woe of receiving outsiders. UDF brought in an outsider this time as well.

So many cares, so many challenges.

Who would have the last laugh?

Protestants left high and dry

By O J George

Earlier church leaders thought their interests were being taken care of by the Congress Party. Often, the party was not able to live up to the expectations of various church factions. At times, the church leaders would boast of teaching a lesson to the party.

This time, Congress Party cared two hoots about the nominees preferred by church factions other than Catholics. The Catholics are also not fully satisfied. It wanted Hibi Eden to be fielded from Ernakulam, instead Congress chose K V Thomas. Still Catholics got three nominees.

Orthodox, CSI, marthomites drew a blank. No one knows what form the reaction of these church leaders would assume. Orthodox Church has issued an ultimatum. It will field candidates in at least four constituencies. Anyway, K V Thomas has visited the Devalokam Catholicate palace and tried to assuage the ruffled feelings of the metropolitans.

Churches fielding candidates without association with fronts would ultimately prove to be futile, and they would still get distanced from the mainstream.

Things are getting curiouser and inexplicable.

Front politics in Kerala shaking up

By O J George


I have been watching with great interest the unending talkathon going on in various channels by journalists, analysts and political and non-political leaders of various hues regarding the serious seat sharing issue confronting the Left Democratic Front in Kerala.

No one has analysed the issue in such a way that there is some hidden agenda by interested parties to unseat V S Achuthanandan from Chief Ministership.

The earlier attempt was to provoke VS not to participate in the march led by bete noire Pinarayi Vijayan. But somehow that got blown over.

But the fact remains that Pinarayi Vijayan may have to give up his post of state secretary of CPM at least after the Lok Sabha elections. His faction would not want Achuthanandan to continue as Chief Minister when Pinarayi Vijayan would be counting days outside the party echelons.

The best way would be to provoke the LDF partners into parting ways. That has come into being. Janata Dal(Secular) has decided to withdraw its minister, Mathew T Thomas, from the Achuthanandan ministry.

CPI is on the verge of walking out of the front. CPM may be toying with the idea that when CPI and Janata Dal go out, it can draft PDP and NCP.

Anyway the situation is akin to a complete restructuring of the front politics in Kerala.

Take care, terrorism is at the door-step

By O J George

What can one say about the threat issued to our Defence Minister A.K.Antony’s son in the St Stephen’s College, Delhi?

Terrorism has no qualms about doing anything. The terror leaders do not discriminate between women, children, old people or students.

What did Antony’s son do to the terrorists? It so happens that he is the son of our Defence Minister. That is all.

The country has to give protection to the people, be he a Minister’s son or otherwise. Ordinary people may not get specific threats. In the case of Antony, it is not the case. All protection measures should be extended to Antony’s son.

Even petty underworld chieftains can wreak havoc on people they want to destroy. One can imagine the wherewithal of terrorists who have a large canvas and larger wherewithal.

St Stephen’s has taken a decision to disallow anyone into the campus without the identity card. That is all good. But the precaution is not fool-proof. One or two security people cannot catch dare-devil terrorists.Terrorists even forge identity papers.

It is not like old times when people could roam around in all camaraderie. No place is safe, therefore, be alert.

Largest democracy looking for its govt

By O.J.George

Many of the countries which got independence from imperialists around the time India got liberated from British yoke found themselves led by military men or dictators of other interests or totalitarian giants.

Real democracy is absent in Russia, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and what not. The majesty of Indian democracy is that it is holding the democratic exercise of electing its leaders every five years.

In spite of great diversities, languages, culture and interests, the country is holding together. The British wanted to divide British India by giving over a separate Pakistan. Now the world is suffering on account of the terrorists having a haven in Pakistan. The problem will only worsen.

In India,From April 16, there will be elections to the Lok Sabha in five phases. The 15th Lok Sabha has to be constituted by June 2, this year. By May 26, all the results will be out. The country will know who will lead its governance. Will it be BJP, Congress or a third conglomeration?

The country has provided opportunities to all varieties of governance. From absolute Congress rule to slender coalitions, BJP-led alliance and the like the country witnessed a plethora of exercises. But never did it plunge into anything other than democracy. A bad patch of emergency was quickly withdrawn.Communists turned down a golden opportunity to rule the country.

The world will see more of India in the years to come, upholding democracy

Heady days of newspapers over?

By O J George

Today I was flabbergasted to read in Malayala Manorama that its “Sree”, a free booklet given out on Sundays, was extinct on account of financial crisis.Moreover, the number of pages of the main paper has come down. It has no display advertisements on page one. Many of the ads inside are those of Government-related institutions and projects. Recession is not on the door-step, but it has taken over the parlour.

If the condition of Malayala Manorama, the vanguard daily publication in Kerala, is precarious, what would be the fate of others?

Others might be worse than this powerful daily. I know an English daily which has a lot of properties, outwardly looking. But the loans taken from financial institutions for constructing buildings and acquiring assets are all overdue for repayment. The company cannot even pay up the interest on all the loans. Even this firm projects assets worth crores of rupees. But God knows when it would tumble like a pack of cards. Meanwhile, it has been taking fixed deposits from readers. The depositors might have fallen into a trap, for God knows whether the money would be paid back or not.

Print media institutions are essentially flabby. The top-heavy newspapers have to pay hefty salary to a large number of incumbents, the total amount of which would be more than the total pay cheque of the majority of other staff members. But in the name of recession and chopping, the lower rungs would suffer even as the upper echelons manage to flourish. Ultimately, this would ruin the very institutions.

Strategies will have to be fine-tuned to retain the medium. Not that newspapers will vanish, but the very concept of broad-sheets call for urgent revamp that will cut costs.

VS has independent line

O J George

Kottayam: Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan is not prepared to give up his fight against corruption, in spite of the strong forces in the politburo and state party leadership riling him.

Today he made it clear in Delhi as he was leaving for Kerala that he would continue his war on corruption. Of course, he cited instances of Edamalayar, palmolein and Brahmapuram in which his foes were different. But inherent in this assertion is his motivation to continue with the fight against corruption in the Lavalin case as well.

The party, on its part, as explained by none other than general secretary Prakash Karat, is that there is not an iota of evidence against Pinaryi Vijayan. The most crucial point was that the project for Panniar, Chenkulam and Pallivasal renovation was given to Lavalin as decided by various bodies of the party. Now Pinarayi is out of the pictusre, the party has stepped in.

Now, what is the meaning of V.S.Achuthanandan’s determination to continue to fight against corruption? He will have to fight against the present dispensation of the party which is covering up the alleged corruption.

Kerala is set for further encounters, people have taken sides, and everyone is biding for time. VS would not get support from the present leadership in Delhi. There is no prospect of the leadership changing.

For VS, it would be suicidal politically if he goes back on his pronounced policies.

The grit and determination with which VS has been taking up causes, one can expect carefully crafted follow-up measures.

Would PB cave in or VS part ways?

Delhi : the crucial politburo meeting commenced at AKG Bhavan, Delhi, this morning, which is slated to discuss the Lavalin issue.

Any decision by the politburo could affect CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan.

The politburo has already taken the strong stand that the CBI case against Pinarayi Vijayan is politically motivated.

Now that Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan is not amenable to give in to pressures being exerted by the politburo, and the PB not inclined to accede to VS’ wishes, things may go out of control today.

Or else VS will have to meekly abide by the diktat of the PB, led by general secretary Prakash Karat.

VS should surrender before the party, otherwise the PB should take disciplinary action against him, according to the Kerala State leadership of the party.

In any case, if Pinarayi Vijayan is to be temporarily demit office, simultaneously VS should also step down.

That things are coming to a head is indicated by VS calling on West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee and WB state secretary Biman Bose at Bengal Bhavan this morning.

VS had arrived at AKG Bhavan at 9.30 am and met Prakash Karat. Without much delay he left AKG Bhavan and drove to the Bengal Bhavan to meet the Bengal leaders.

He also called on Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar before making himself available for the full PB meeting.

Kerala’s Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Pinarayi Vijayan drove straight to the AKG Bhavan from the airport to attend the PB meeting.

After VS had publicly stated that he was taking an independent stand in the Lavalin issue and that he would not take part in the Nava Kerala Yatra led by Pinarayi Vijayan, it is certain that the central leadership would be hard-pressed to take action against him.

But any action against him this time, while appeasing the Pinarayi Vijayan faction would only alienate V S further and no one knows as of now what course of action VS would follow.

Things have gone out of control and meek action by anyone is ruled out this time.

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.

VS Govt is gasping for breath

By O J George

The V S Achuthanandan Government in Kerala is gasping for breath. CPM in the state, instead of supporting its government, is creating hurdles more arduous than the opposition front.

The old war-horse he is, Achuthanandan does not mince words to castigate his opponents within the party.

The state party leaders were hoping that Achuthanandan govt could be given a quiet burial after the Lok Sabha elections, which the LDF is sure to trail the UDF.

But VS would not fall that flat easily, for he has been apprising the politburo about the wrong-doings going on in the party in Kerala. However, the politburo this time has not even cared to provide a leeway to VS, who the PB knows cannot approve of the ways of CPM Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

A piquant situation has arisen in Kerala cabinet. The Chief Minister says he will not speak or do anything against the tenets of the Constitution. The CBI has prepared a charge-sheet against CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the Lavalin issue. Pinarayi Vijayan, when he was the Power Minister earlier, had allegedly caused a loss of over Rs 380 crore to the exchequer.

The previous UDF govt had entered into a memorandum of understanding with Lavalin for maintenance of Pallivasal, Chengulam and Panniar power stations. But it was during the tenure of Pinarayi that Lavalin was given the work order without inviting tenders. Lavalin was appointed only as the consultancy agency during the UDF, it says. Work was given during LDF govt tenure.


CPM cannot give up Pinarayi. V S cannot tolerate the alleged corruption. There does not seem to be a via media. Any patch-up will only tarnish the image of both groups. It seems VS is on his way out, either on his own volition or on the machinations of his detractors in the party.

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.

Obama starting well

By O J George

It was exhilarating to see Barack Obama ascend to being President of the United States of America. Sitting far away and simply observing the political ways of America, I never thought that the US, which had refused to change its certain ways for 220 years of its independence, would elect an Afro-American origin person as its President. Then, times are changing and the descendants of the oppressed are becoming the callers of the tune.

That is nice for the world which has become too mugh besotted, selfish and avaricious.

For Obama, there are many things to do. If he does all the things which he can do, in al sincerity, sky is the limit for the world to come to common sense. I believe the world, the people who call the shots have all lost their common sense, not listening to others’needs for existence.

There is no point in going on berating America for anything and everything like Hugo Chavez, Ahmadinijad and the like do. The thinking people would only consider them as foolhardy.

Nice things about Obama’s ways, he had drafted Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, retained Robert Gates as Defence Secretary. These are signs of accommodation.

Let him take wise decisions for the common good of the world

Terror leaders safe, followers thrown into war

By O J George

“We will sit in crevices, corners and caves in high mountains or hide in deep forests or coastal belt in cognito. You people go and wage a war and get killed”. This appears to be the message given out by so-called messiahs like Osama bin Laden, Hamas leaders, LeT, Jaish and other outfits, as well as LTTE’s supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

In Gaza, hundreds of innocent people, including women and children, are getting killed and maimed in the war between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has been launching rockets from safe hide-outs in Gaza which was vacated by Israel earlier. The rockets were being launched from the fences close to the border with Israel. There are forces out in the world to see that Israel is not safe. Once the Jews were dispersed all over the world. They had no place to live. When they were being hunted out, India was one among the few countries which offered asylum. So we had jewish settlements in Mumbai, Kochi and the like.

Israel was carved out for Jews by UN-led efforts. But certain elements have not taken kindly to the Jewish nation. Now, when Israel has invaded Gaza and has been killing Hamas perpetrators of terrorism, innocents getting killed in between, it seems Hamas is coming round to seeing reason at least for now. An attempt to monitor the Hamas from not getting armed further has been conceded.

Velupillai Prabhakaran has been offering the moon to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. His methods were terrorist. Now he is paying the price for it. The victims are Tamils in Sri Lanka. They have been laid in the lurch. People should understand that terrorists cannot be trusted.

The only displaced leader who has sworn against warfare is Dalai Lama who is in exile in Himachal Pradesh. An independent Tibet is out of the question. China would not even grant autonomy to Tibet. Dalai Lama is a refugee. All the same he has not taken to warfare. He will be know in the annals of history as a man of peace.

Terrorists responsible for this war

By O J George

Innocents are getting killed in Gaza. By now the count is 660 Palestinians killed and 2,700 injured. Women and children are there among the victims. Sad state of affairs indeed.

But the root-cause of all the mayhem is terrorism. Be it Hamas, Hisbullah, al-Qaeda, Lashkar, Jaish or LTTE, they are an eye-sore to civilised world. They will not want the word to live in peace. The reason could be Jehovah, Allah, Christ or someone else. The terrorists falsely believe that they are the saviours of these noble souls who do not need any saviour. Cry for you and your children, Christ told those wailing for him.

Pakistani terrorists launched an attack on India in Mumbai. They killed 180 people, including 36 Muslims. They don’t care. Jews, Americans, British and other foreigners were also done to death. If it is the Israeli style, India should have retaliated with a war on Pakistan. Thank God, it did not happen. Otherwise, thousands or even millions on both sides would have perished. Mind you, both the countries are nuclear powers. If a war is launched, after millions are decimated, the world will crave for a ceasefire. And that will occur. The net result would be the same, the terrorists would still continue to have their way.

True, blockade of support would help. LTTE terrorist Prabhakaran who killed Rajiv Gandhi is now sweating it out to live. After the US declared LTTE as a terrorist organisation, arms and funds seem to have been flowing to it at a lesser pace. No country should support terrorists, whatever be the cause they espouse.

The best way to deal with Pakistan would be to get a declaration from the world that it is a terrorist country. Sooner or later, the world will come to be convinced that Pakistan is the most terrorist-infested country in the world. All the other terrorist organisations in the world get support from those who made a haven in Pakistan. Ultimately, the US, the UK and other big powers will be forced to deal with Pakistan directly, for the terrorist activities there will only increase.

10,000 youngsters testing the art waters

By O J George

Asia’s biggest youngsters’ conclave of art competitions begins at Thiruvananthapuram today. About 10,000 youngsters from high schools, higher secondary schools, and vocational higher secondary schools are trying their hands for a prize in the competitions of tune, rhythm and festivities.

The schools youth festival of Kerala has entered the 49th year. Next year the mela would have its golden jubilee, even though there were breaks in 1972 and 1973.

The competitions would be held at 16 venues in 216 items.

This year the festival has uniqueness in combining the melas of high school, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary sections. Earlier, these were being held separately.

The district which fetches the highest number of points would fetch the gold cup.

The cultural pageant being taken out in the afternoon from University stadium to Putherikandam maidan would be a feast for the eyes.

The participants from northern districts like Kannur and Kasargod had reached last night itself.

Tactic everywhere will not work

By O J George

One can be master only when there are slaves or followers. One can indulge in tantra or tactics only when there are stupid people all around. The world has been thriving very well with a few people playing all the tricks on the masses and reaping benefits. The slaves were there to sweat it out and do the dirty work.

When people were armed with sticks and stones, somebody emerged with the gun, and the gunner was the leader. Later those who had more powerful weapons wielded more power and enslaved others. If more countries have nuclear bombs, there are more leaders. But what is the benefit of having a nuclear bomb, if the rival also has the same destructive weapon?

The futility of the weapons had been made clear by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. Love is the most powerful weapon over all other ammunitions. The armoury would destroy mankind, but if people’s minds can be deweaponised, that would be the greatest weapon.

But that requires an attitude of renunciation. God renounced everything. But those who espouse the cause of God hold materialistic things dear to their heart from which God has escaped.

Priests and prelates trying to save God do not understand the fact that God does not need any saviour. Man needs Him, but wants Him on man’s terms. God is just not available on someone else’s terms.

The cruelty, the hatred, gargantuan selfishness and propensity to destroy others to the benefit of the self are all far away from God’s realm.

Acquisitions and mergers and covetousness are all emphemeral. Let humanity work for the benefit of all, without employing tactics. For the other man has understood the nuances of the tactics being directed against him. When everyone has attained wisdom, there will be no ignoramuses. No one can fool around anymore.

The war of nerves should end

By O J George

I feel the war of words between Pakistan and India should end. Pakistan would not act on the demands made by India to hand over horrible terrorists and abettors and perpetrators of heinous crimes on humanity, not only India, but also to the whole world.

There is no harm in enlisting the support of all sections in the international community to get Pakistan declared as a terrorist nation.

President Zardari does not enjoy the support of the real powers-that-be in Pakistan. US, UK and other countries are releasing gigantic sums of money to Pakistan for ending terrorism-related activities in Pakistan, but most of the funds are misutilised and no one can corner them.

The present policy of side-tracking the main issue of terrorism fomenting from Pakistan will not be good for eternity. At one time or other in future, I feel, US, UK and other countries will have to wage a war against terrorist elements within Pakistan. India should support their move then.

It should be clearly assessed how a nuclear-powered Pakistan would behave, if there is a war.

Make our borders impenetrable

By O J George

Make our borders on land, air and sea impenetrable. Pakistan is a namesake democratic country, for its mainstay is military power. US President George Bush himself was believed to have had a private talk with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which Bush urged Singh not to take present Pak President seriously. Zardari may engage in loose talk, but don’t expect any cogent action from Pakistan on dismantling terrorist outfits there.

Instead of anticipating Pakistan to take action, we must insulate ourselves from terrorist acts. If there are traitors here, they would at least indirectly support these anti-national elements. We have to identify the traitors here first and destroy them.

If the borders can be insulated, terrorists flourishing in Pakistan will destroy Pakistan itself. For terrorists cannot sit idle. They want targets to strike. Let them strike targets there, not in India. For that we have to take stringent action here.

A hasty military strike against Pakistan will only weaken us. If we have to strike against Islamist terrorists, we have to accept assistance from those countries which can attack Pakistan. There is no harm in receiving assistance from US and Israel.

Every inch of land, sea and air should be scanned

By O.J.George

The latest is the boot President Bush got at the hands of a so-called journalist in Iraq. Terrorists masquerading as journalists is becoming a phenomenon. Killers of Rajiv Gandhi had used the camouflage of journalists. Sivarasan was watching the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, sitting among journalists in Sreeperumbudur.

Terrorists do not got the conventional way. Mumbai attacks, in the normal course, cannot be thought of. They have hoodwinked everyone and took the country to ransom.

It has become certain. Mere pronouncements would not do. Every inch of the land, sea, air should be scanned every moment. There are murderous people waiting outside to wreak havoc on mankind.

Whether laws, federal agency or what not are required, have no hesitation in going ahead.
There may be long talks about human rights, democratic principles and equality. These norms apply to human beings, not terrorists