TRIVANDRUM, 14 May 2006 — Formation of a new government in the state is likely to be delayed at least by another week because of bitter power struggle within the Communist Party of India-Marxist that leads the coalition. According to reports, the reformists led by state unit Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and most of other leaders are resisting hard-liner V. S. Achuthanandan’s candidature that was discussed at the party’s apex body meeting held in New Delhi yesterday. His efforts to project himself as the natural choice, as the majority of pollsters claimed, has also irked them. General Secretary Prakash Karat will report the politburo’s evaluation to the state secretariat today and get the decision formalized by the state committee the next day. “We have taken a decision,” Karat told reporters after the meeting. According to the party sources, discussion on the size of the Cabinet and representation of the seven allies would begin only after that. The formation had won the elections with a two-thirds majority and Achuthanandan, 83, was its star campaigner. However, the veteran’s so called anti-development stance is a nightmare for comrades who prescribe a Buddhadeb Battacharya pill for the state’s industrial backwardness. In his eagerness to lead popular struggles, he became a synonym for violent agitations and forgot that the party is above personality, they feel. Paloli Mohammed Kutty is the reformists’ choice and he is likely to be the No. 2 in case Achuthanandan has his way.
Party Mouthpiece Ignores Achuthanandan
While all newspapers in the state Friday had front page pictures of the octogenarian, the CPI-M mouthpiece Deshabhimani did not have his picture on the front page. Also intriguing was how a photograph of a jubilant party supporter with the alphabet V written on his left cheek and S on the right that appeared in most newspapers was found displayed in Deshabhimani with the alphabets missing from the face. This clearly indicates that all is not well in the “red party” in Kerala where factionalism is now resurfacing like never before. Deshabhimani is fully under the control of Vijayan and Achuthanandan was removed as its chief editor last year immediately after all 12 of his candidates failed to make it to the state committee.
Jamaat Claim
The Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed that its support proved critical to the victory of the left in some of the constituencies where the victory margins were thin. The Kerala Amir T. Arif Ali said he did not want to make any tall claims about the JI’s unprecedented support to the left but felt it had made “marginal but critical impact” on the results. He said the JI had very actively campaigned for the LDF, holding hundreds of meetings and calling innumerable meetings of families. The Jamaat cadre had voted en masse for the left that won 98 of the 140 seats.
Memorial for Marakkar
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan will dedicate a memorial of Kunhali Marakkar, the brave Muslim commander of Zamorin’s Navy in Iringal village near Calicut next week. Indian Navy’s Vice-Admiral S.C.S. Bangara, flag officer commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command, will be present on the occasion. The government had taken steps to preserve a small house associated with the Kunhali lineage in Iringal. This was part of efforts of the navy to enthuse the citizens to pay greater heed to our rich maritime legacy, a statement from the navy said.
Drunken Drivers Warned
Major Archbishop Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil has issued a pastoral letter declaring “drunken driving is a sin that must be confessed” to 337 churches under the diocese. “Beware, drunken drivers, your action may invite the wrath of God. And if you want to avoid the wrath, approach your priest and confess the sin,” it says. Driving in an inebriated condition was considered a sin in three important proclamations put out by the Vatican. “The followers of the church who violate the “divine order’ are supposed to be penalized on the Day of Judgment,” said the pastoral letter read out to the believers by the chief priests in churches last week.
