Thiruvananthapuram : The raging row in the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) over the P Krishna Pillai memorial torching case has taken a new turn with party veteran and leader of opposition V S Achuthanandan alleging the role of his detractors in the party behind it. The Crime Branch, which investigated the incident, had concluded that the crime was committed by party leaders and activists belonging to the group led by the nonagenarian leader due to factional rivalry.
One of the five accused is Latheesh B Chandran, who was a personal staff of V S Achuthanandan when he was the chief minister. He was suspended from the party after the investigation team submitted its report in the court.
However, Achuthanandan, who consistently defended his men, said that party leaders, who had worked for his defeat in the 1996 Assembly polls at Mararikkulam in Alapuzha district, had torched the memorial of the Communist pioneer to weaken his support base in his home district. He told a channel on Tuesday that the attack was led by senior leader T K Palani, who was suspended from the CPI (M) in connection with anti-party activity during the election.
Achuthanandan said he would raise the issue in the party state committee and hoped that the state committee would change the stand and revoke the suspension of his followers.
The party secretariat rejected his charge. It said that the statement issued by Achuthanandan against the party stand was incorrect. It noted that action was taken against Latheesh after a case was registered against him. The secretariat hoped that Achuthanandan will stop protecting him. Palani, who had accused the involvement of Achuthanandan’s supporters in the case in the statement given to the Crime Branch probe team, joined issue with Achutannandan.
He said the leader’s latest charge was a clear indication of his own involvement in the incident. Palani said he would file a complaint against him in the party.
He also urged the Crime Branch to investigate Achuthanandan’s role.
Political observers view the charges and counter charges as a reflection of the fratricidal faction feud in the party. Advocate Ravishankar, a media analyst, said it also showed the decadence in the party. No genuine communist can attack the memorial of a leader, who was respected even by rival parties.
He said the feud in the party would intensify during the state conference, which is scheduled to be held at Alapuzha. The conference is expected to witness heightened factional activity as the current state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, who heads the rival faction, is going to relinquish the post.
