The relations between the CPI(M) and the CPI, the two seniors in the Left Democratic Front, hit a new low with Members of Parliament and legislators of the former boycotting the functions of Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan, a nominee of the CPI in the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet, in Kasaragod on Monday, besides the CPI(M) going ahead with its hartal call in Munnar on Tuesday against the Revenue Department’s decision to evict encroachers in some areas in Idukki.
The row over Nationalist Congress Party leader Thomas Chandy’s resignation as Transport Minister had caused a crack in the relations between the CPI(M) and the CPI. The CPI had taken a tough stand, even keeping off a Cabinet meeting, to force the Minister’s resignation on the ground that he had violated the existing laws by encroachment of land and reclamation of backwaters and the propriety of the Minister dragging the government he is part of to the High Court, not to mention the court’s subsequent adverse remarks. The Chief Minister had also reacted rather strongly to the CPI Ministers’ action, terming it as an extraordinary development. After the initial round of heated words, the leaders of the two parties had come to an understanding not to push the matter too far.
The understanding did not last long because the Revenue Department went ahead with its decision to cancel the title deeds given to Joice George, MP, and a few other local CPI(M) leaders in Kottakamboor in Idukki district, apparently irking the CPI(M), prompting it to call a hartal in Munnar.
Electricity Minister M M Mani, who has been taking strong positions against the Revenue Department’s eviction of encroachers from Munnar, made some provocative speeches during the course of the day taunting the CPI leadership.
Since the CPI(M) and CPI are in the midst of their local conferences ahead of their respective party conferences, Left politics is likely to witness more smoke and fire in the coming days. The State has witnessed such events in the past also, whenever the LDF is in power, sources said.
