The absence of CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran at a seminar on coalition politics organised by the Information Public Relations Department here on Saturday has lent a new dimension to the raging differences of opinion between the CPI(M) and the CPI.
The seminar organised as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the first Ministry led by the late E.M.S. Namboodiripad was inaugurated by Cooperation Minister Kadakampally Surendran and chaired by Ports Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally.
Mr. Rajendran and LDF convener Vaikom Viswan were the prominent speakers expected to address the seminar. Mr. Viswan addressed the seminar, but Mr. Rajendran was conspicuous by his absence.
Though the CPI office explained that Mr. Rajendran was attending a party committee at M.N. Smarakam, the CPI headquarters, rumours were rife that Mr. Rajendran was not keen on attending the seminar inaugurated by a relatively junior Minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan Cabinet and hence chose to abstain.
Mr. Surendran, in his inaugural, address said that allies in a coalition should be accommodative and work in mutual cooperation to run the government.
Mr. Ramachandran said that considering the threat to secularism and challenges to the principles of federalism in the country, the LDF should be emulated at the national level.
Mr. Viswan said the consistent efforts of the first government had helped to mould a progressive and Left consciousness in the State and that was the trigger for all major reforms in health and education sectors and milestones such as the land reforms.
Moderator Cheriyan Philip said the State politics was revolving around the Congress and the CPI(M). He preferred a single party rule than a coalition. He also dispelled the concept of big brother. “Be it the LDF or the UDF, it is not the big brothers, but the smaller ones are those who have proved to be irritants,” he said.
