Kochi, 22 December(HS): The beleaguered CPI(M) and its chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, smarting under the defeat in the recently held elections to Local Self Government Institutions got a shot in the arm on Sunday from an unexpected quarters.
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered the worst defeat in the electoral history of the State as it was defeated in five out of seven municipal corporations while it had to be content with just 28 out of 84 municipalities, 341 out of 941 grama panchayats, and 63 out of 152 block panchayats.
With the elections to assembly scheduled to be held in March-April, the CPI(M) was facing an almost certain defeat in the hustings as the party’s present position touching an abysmal level.
The demise of Sreenivasan, a leading film actor without any aura of a superstar, has brought a new lease of life to Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M). A known critic of the CPI(M), Sreeni had penned scripts of a number of movies which were highly critical of the Marxists and their resistance to move from conventional grooves of Communism in tune with the changed circumstances. The general feeling about party cadres and leaders was that he was a fellow traveller of the party and his criticisms were made with the sole aim of rejuvenating the party structure.
Sreenivasan’s last rites were held on Sunday at his residence in Kandanadu, a suburb in Kochi. What caught the attention of the people was the manner in which the cremation was performed. While Sreeni’s elder son Vineet performed the last rites including the lighting of the pyre, his younger son Dhyan gave a red salute (raising the arm with clenched fist) to his late father. This is the conventional Marxist style of showing solidarity with the departed soul and this was not lost in the politically surcharged atmosphere in the State.
The CPI(M) was in the look out for a face (young and handsome) who could salvage the party from the rut it has fallen. Not even a single soul in the party has got the charisma which could match that of Pinarayi Vijayan. Though the party has youthful leaders like K N Balagopal, P Raajeeve, M B Rajesh, Saji Cherian, V Sivankutty and Bindu, their names evoke laughter because of the foolishness in their behaviour.
The young leaders like Jake Thomas, Chintha Jerome, A A Rahim (whom people address as Professor Luttappi, a Malayalam cartoon character) are no different. The red salute by Dhyan Chand has come at a time when Vijayan is in the look out for a fresh face to inspire the youth.
Political observers are of the opinion that Dhyan Sreenivasan fits the bill and an ideal solution to the woes of Vijayan and the CPI(M). “He has the potential and capability to draw the attention of the voters who are in the look out for a face with clean image,” said a veteran political commentator.
Dr E Balakrishnan, Communist historian, told HS that the results of the LSGI election are no way an indicator of the outcome of the assembly polls to be held in March next year. “It is true that the LDF and the CPI(M) lost heavily in the polls. But the expectation among their rivals was a total wash out and this did not happen. The outcome of the legislative assembly election would be quite different from what we saw during the municipality and panchayat polls. The LDF Government had announced a series of measures like hike in social pensions, allowances to unemployed women etc. Though the State is undergoing financial crisis of the worst kind, it has not prevented Pinarayi Vijayan from declaring a number of packages and doles to people belonging to lower strata,’ said Dr Balakrishnan.
Party veterans too hope that Dhyan and doles may work wonders for the CPI(M) and the LDF.
Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti
