As the local body elections get closer to the booths, allegations and accusations are let loose in Kerala. Moreover, the current LDF government is facing investigations one after another, by different central agencies, all of whom are getting closer to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office. The latest in the line is Enforcement Directorate’s interest in Pinarayi’s Additional Private Secretary CM Raveendran and his alleged relation to the gold smuggling as well as Benami dealings.
Adding to this, KK Rema claimed that CM Raveendran knew about the murder of TP Chandrasekharan — Rama’s husband and founder of the Revolutionary Marxist Party — and that she had given the same info to the investigating officers. Chandrasekharan was a former leader in the CPI (M) and had formed RMP after his expulsion from the former. His death was politically motivated and over 50 people — most having close ties with the CPI (M) — were detained. However, many were let free due to lack of evidence and the rest were sent to prison. She also alleged that Raveendran has Benami dealings in the Vadakara region.
Rama’s allegations are on the heels of the local body polls that are inching closer to its finale. She was speaking to media persons, about the criticisms against RMP for allying with the UDF, when they claim to be the true alternative to the left movement. She said, “Chandrasekharan was trying to be the true alternative to the left, and what did they do? They didn’t allow him to do that. So they don’t have the right to ask that question.” She added that her alliance with the UDF isn’t a whole or nothing deal. They have only joined forces in some key spots. This is concerning the Kallamala issue that had cropped up a few days ago.
In Kallamala, the KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran had fielded KP Jayakumar, meanwhile the Congress-led UDF, in alliance with RMP, fielded a common candidate — C Sugathan. The issue had created a problem for both teams, as the Rema and other leaders told Ramachandran that his decision might help the CPI (M) to win. After a long time debating over this, Ramachandran had decided to withdraw his candidate, but the damage might have already been done.
Moreover, another interesting aspect is that CPI (M) is trying to minimise the use of Pinarayi Vijayan’s name in the election campaigns, and the CM is rarely entering the process. The party leaders had claimed that he is the energy of the party and that he is staying away following Covid protocols. However, Rema claims that that’s not the case. “Not even CPI (M) members would vote for the party if it had Vijayan’s face. He claims to be following Covid protocols. Didn’t these protocols matter to him when he was visiting (PK) Kunjananthan after the latter had died?”
Kunjananthan was one of the main accused in the TP Chandrasekharan murder. He had been in an out of jail, with more paroles than anyone else. The Kerala High Court had even questioned as to how he could get so many paroles. The government cited health issues as a reason. Kunjananthan had passed away a few months ago and Pinarayi Vijayan had gone to visit him, breaking Covid protocols.
