There is a question which members of other parties and other
non-politcal public ask now-a-days ask CPM workers and followers. That is
“whether you belong to Pinaray group or Achuthanandan Group?” It is a fact that
the monopoly press as also visual media have been propagating for quite some
time now about the existence of two groups in CPM, one belonging to Pinarayi
and the other to Achuthanandan. They have even
categorized almost all the state-level
as well as district–level leaders into Pinarayi group and Achuthanandan group. It
is in the above backdrop of media hype that the above question is being asked by
members of other parties and some of the general public. To those who ask me
such a question I always reply that first of all it is not correct to say that
there are two groups in the party led by these leaders and they may have
different views on any issue which does not mean that they have formed any
groups. I also assert that I belong to CPM and not to any such imaginery group.
On the one hand, I do
not have any particular liking or
disliking for any leader of CPM And on the other hand, I love
and respect all the leaders of the party irrespective of their personal traits
or qualities. These leaders include Comrades Pinarayi, VS, Sivadasa Menon,
Paloly Mohammed Kutty, Kodiyeri so on so forth.
While at it, I recall certain old events which I think are
relevant to the context to quote here.. In the 70s and 80s many CPM leaders
including A.VAryan, MV Raghavan, PV Kunhikannan, O Bharathan, K.R.Gowri Amma to
name a few, were expelled from CPMfor anti-party activities and indiscipline. I
had liked and held these leaders in high esteem. Nevertheless, once they are
expelled from the party, my love and respect to them were lost. It needs
special mention here that I had a lot of opportunitities of hearing the speech
of these leaders. Out of these leaders,
I had enjoyed to the hilt the oratory of AV Aryan and MV Raghavan, which were
awe-some, mnd-boggling and hilarious and thus to hear that was a pleasant
experience. This did not in way mean that I had become a follower of either of
these leaders at that time.
As regards AV Aryan who happened to be MLA from Ollur in
Trissur District, he was the first on whom the axe of party action had fallen. When he had started
to carry on with his anti-party activities in total disregard to party
discipline and ideology, party could not ignore that. During those days a good
number of trade unions had sprang up like mushrooms in and around Trissur town
at the behest of AV /Aryan, Interestingly, while AV Aryan himself was the
President CS Ignatius who passed away very recently was Secretary of all these
unions which were formed either without the knowledge or sanction of the party and thus was against the party’s
laid down principles. Since AV Aryan had continued his anti-party activities
the party had left with no other option but to expel him. Once he was out of
the party my liking for him had become a closed chapter. Later on, when his crones had waylaid and
brutally murdered CPM leader Com.Azheekkodan Raghavan, he had become a person
to be detested.
The same fate faced by AV Aryan was waiting for MV Raghavan
when he had indulged in anti-party activities in the 80s leading to his ouster
from the party alongwith many a seniors leaders like PV Kunhikannan, O
Bharathan etc. On getting expelled from
the party, MV Raghavan had tried to challenge the party and gone a whirlwind
tour throughout the state to enlist the support of CPM cadres. The huge
gathering drawn by him in the meetings
addressed by hin in every nook and corner of the state had at times resulted in
traffic block at many places. This huge gathering was construed by monopoly
press and media as an indicator of the mass following wielded by MV Raghavan
and they even predicted that CPM will be doomed very soon as MV Raghavan will
romp home with large chunks of its
members and followers. But to their
utter dismay and disbelief , it was not too late before it came to light
that the so-called mass support enjoyed by MV Raghavan was nothing but a soap
bubble. The cases of other expelled leaders like KR Gowri Amma were not
different either.
Understandaly, there is no place for personal cult in CPM.
All the leaders are loved and respected alike by the party cadres and followers
primarily based on their loyalty to the party and sense of discipline. Personal
qualities of the leaders are only secondary for all practical purposes. In case
any leader, irrespective of h\is stature in the party indulges in ant-party
activities or indiscipline, he will be dealt with as per the norms laid down by
the party. The lov and respect enjoyed by them amongst the rank and fle will
end then and there.
There is no denyng the fact that there were quite a few
exceptions when some members or activists of the party who were so much personally
attached with certain leaders. In the event they were expelled from the party
these members/activisits lost no time in following them. Nevertheless, the number of such
members/activists were a miniscule and majorty adhere to a clear-cut sense of ideology
and discipline and cannot be misled by any such leaders who flout the
discipline and indulges in anti-party activities.
In this connection it is apposite to cite what Com.EMS had
said about loyalty to the party and discipline. He had opined thus: until any
leader irrespective of the stature in the party, remains devoted to the
ideology and discipline of the party he/she will be loved and respected by the
party cadres and sympathizers; however, the moment he/she deviates from the
ideals of the party and indulges in the acts of indiscipline, he/she will
become anathema to the party. He had
also mentioned that even if he does the same, things will not be different and
he will also meet the same fate of such leaders. This is what makes CPM quite
different from other parties.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment