CPM’s youth leader ‘tried’ to physically harm VS

 The neo-liberalists controlling the Kerala CPI(M) had even tried to physically harm VS Achuthanandan, one of the 32 leaders who had taken part in the founding process of the party back in 1964, if the ‘disclosure’ made by Marxist ideologue Berlin Kunhananthan Nair could be believed.

Kunhananthan Nair, called simply as ‘Berlin’, recounts in his Malayalam book ‘Ekadhipathikal Arhikkunnathu (What Autocrats Deserve) that a young Marxist leader from Kannur, who was close to the top leadership of the CPI(M) had tried to physically harm Achuthanandan by pushing him down during a poll campaign back in 2006.

In a chapter titled “Is it VS’s life they want”, Berlin says that the then SFI leader from Kannur, who is presently a State committee member and an MLA, had tried to push him down while on a campaign tour to Kannur. He had tried to bring VS physically down by thrusting his leg before those of Achuthanandan while he was walking among the supporters, the author says.

Berlin says that the bid to physically harm had taken place when he was walking to the stage through the crowds of supporters in Payyannur in Kannur where he had reached after creating waves Statewide in the election campaign. “VS was saved from the bid as KM Shajahan, his additional private secretary, who held his hand” in time, says Berlin in the book.

Shajahan had complained to the party leadership about this but it did not serve any purpose, says Berlin, adding that that young CPI(M) leader is now an accused in a murder case. Sources close to Berlin said that the young leader who tried to harm VS must be TV Rajesh, 33rd accused in the sensational case pertaining to the murder of Abdul Shukoor, a Muslim League activist.

Shajahan confirmed that there had indeed been an attempt by the then SFI leader to harm Achuthanandan but he had failed to respond in the appropriate manner at that time because of “fear for life”. He told the media on Sunday that he was ready to depose before any investigating agency in this regard.

“After the incident, I had complained to State CPI(M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and general secretary Prakash Karat. But both of them failed in taking action. I wonder what kind of a decadence the CPI(M) has fallen into if the leaders fail to take action even after there was an attack against the party’s senior-most leader?” Shajahan asked.

Kunhananthan Nair, a revered Marxist ideologue once, was expelled from the party in 2005. Even after expulsion, he has been keeping a warm relationship with Achuthanandan causing discomfort to the official CPI(M) leadership. The preface for his book has been written by Appukkuttan Vallikkunnu, another expelled Marxist leader.