Murders and CPM travails

Kerala CPM is in turmoil since the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T.P. Chandrasekharan on May 4, 2012. Then came the cases of some other murders like Faisal and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) worker Shukkor. Faisal was a former CPM worker who left the party and joined National Democratic (NDF).

NDF is alleged to be an Islamic fundamentalist organization. Immediately after the murder of Faisal, CPM had unleashed a propaganda that Faisal was killed by RSS men. But, when the CBI took up the case, that propaganda was proved baseless and two senior CPM leaders Karayi Chandrasekharan and Karayi Rajan were arrested in connection with the case. Shukkor was an IUML worker. He was murdered on the February 20, 2012, allegedly by CPM workers.

The prosecution alleged that Shukkor was murdered in retaliation to an alleged attack on CPM Kannur district secretary and state committee member P. Jayarajan, MLA T.V. Rajesh. P Jayarajan is behind the bar. And TV Rajesh was released on bail. Shukkor was chased and caught by CPM men in a remote village and killed there by CPM men, police allege. Jayarajan has still not got bail. The court feels that the accused is influential and giving him bail may influence the inquiry.

CPM’s senior leader Kunjanandan was arrested in connection with TP Chandrasekharan murder case. K.K. Ragesh, former SFI leader is now in the list of the accused. He is also accused of giving shelter to Kunjanandan while police was trying to nab him.

During the war of allegations and counter allegations in the wake of Chandrasekharan murder, M.M. Moni, controversial Idukki district secretary of CPM, revealed that his party was involved in few political murders that took place in his district a few decades ago. So, now the murder of a youth Congress leader Ancherry Baby is being reinvestigated in view of his revelations. The CPM state committee removed Moni from the position of district secretary as a punishment. Moni has been replaced by Jayachandran. Even though Moni approached high court, he did not get anticipatory bail. Supreme court quashed his plea to cancel the fresh FIR against him in connection with the Idukki murders.

When CPM is embroiled in accusations and allegations concerning murder cases, anti-CPM news did hit the headlines. Hundreds of party cadres admitted demoralization privately. But, to add insult to the injury came the verbal duel between CPM, the Big Brother in Left Democratic Front (LDF) and CPI. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan shot the first salvo. He told a public gathering that ‘a few friends of ours betrayed us when we were in need of help.’ CPI state secretary Panniam Raveendran shot back that CPM can not expect all others to follow them. Every party has got its own individuality. M.M. Moni said that CPI traditionally cheats CPM just like Cheat Chandu cheated Aromal in Vadakkan pattu (northern songs), the Kerala folklore. Panniam told Pinaryi that he should not react as per the words of his chosen men. He should check his own partymen and the press and learn the matters before he says something against CPI.

Then Pinarayi alleged that CPI cadres had killed several CPM workers after the split in 1964. Panniam replied that CPI had not killed anybody. He added that Pinaryi should show enough maturity when he talks.

In the meanwhile, Pinarayi told the media that CPI men killed a CPM worker called Subramanian in 1970 in Anthikkattu, Thrissur district. CPM even went to the extent of observing his death anniversary first time since his demise. But, the brother of the deceased told the media that his dead brother had nothing to do with any party including CPM. Because, he was only a school student and he was murdered by mistake. He wondered why on earth CPM was coming out now with a new story and observing the death anniversary first time for the last 42 years. He appealed to the CPM leaders not to bring more hardships to their poor life and requested to leave them alone with their poverty and problems.

 And, Pinaryi alleged that CPI did not take active role in the hartal observed in protest against the arrest of senior CPM leader P. Jayarajan. Pannian said that CPM unilaterally observed the hartal sans discussion with the other partners of LDF. He added that Kannur district secretary of  CPM has got no authority to declare a state level hartal.

It is significant that CPI leaders did not visit Jayarajan or Rajesh in jail. Since the very murder of T.P. Chandrasekharan, CPI leaders have been stating openly that murders should not be an activity of any party and they (CPI ) did not believe in the philosophy of murder politics.

At this juncture, several political observers felt that CPI was going to call it a day and leave LDF. But, it is impossible because, the situation has changed since 1960s and 1970s. At that time there was Soviet Union and its communist party which could control communist parties in other countries just like their affiliates. Soviet government had got excellent rapport with Indira Gandhi. So, the Congress-CPI alliance was a natural process. But now, gone are the days of Soviet Union and Indira Gandhi. So, CPI has got no more nest to settle. So, a chance for split in the LDF is too remote.

 Opposition leader and veteran CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan took the position. He told that national leaders of both CPM and CPI should discuss the matter and an amicable solution should be found.  Since the intervention of the central leaders, both parties have agreed for a ceasefire. But, for how long is a one million dollar question.