Veteran Communist leader and freedom fighter K. Madhavan has taken strong exception to the moves by Communist Party of India (Marxist) State leadership to deny a ticket to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan maintaining that those who uphold values in public life would not accept the decision.
“The people of Kerala, who uphold values in public life will not accept the unilateral decision to deny Achuthanandan (repeat) Achuthanandan the opportunity to contest the State Assembly polls”, Mr. Madhavan, the lone surviving member who actively took part in the ‘Salt Satyagraha and the ‘Guruvayur Satyagraha’ in the early 30’s, told The Hindu on Thursday.
The nonagenarian leader urged CPI(M) Central leadership, especially party General Secretary Prakash Karat to reconsider the move taking into account the aspirations of the general public.
Achuthanandan and K. Madhavan, a founding member of the Communist movement in the Malabar region, were close associates and were members of the State Council of the undivided Communist party from 1956 to 1964.
Madhavan was the Kasaragod Thaluk Secretary of the Communist Party when the 1941 Kayyur agrarian revolt took place and had also served as member of the Malabar Committee of the party.
Achuthanandan, during his maiden visit to Kasaragod district as Chief Minister had visited Madhavan at his residence here, where he is leading a quiet life.
Earlier in the day, CPI State Council member E. Chandrasekharan, who is contesting as Left Democratic Front nominee from Kanhangad Assembly constituency, paid a visit to the freedom fighter’s residence here before formally launching his election campaign from Thursday.
Lauding the efforts of the Communist movement in ushering in various progressive reforms in Kerala under the tenure of the first Communist Chief Minister E.M.S Namboodiripad, Mr. Madhavan said the brief period also registered a series of development projects such as building road networks, hospitals and setting up of ration shops to provide relief to the marginalised sections of society.
Mr. Madhavan also donated the stipulated deposit money to the LDF nominee for contesting the Assembly polls.
