T.P. & Family !
For unbiased news many
people in Kerala turn to National English channels but being a ‘socially aware’ keralite
‘animal’ living in Kerala I should watch
Malayalam news channels but the issues they cover normally are so dull -
domestic political quarrels and rivalries - so mundane, that I completely neglect it – well till
recently.
On May 4th things
changed. A CPM ( Communist Party of Marxist) rebel named T.P.Chandrasekharan
got killed. On that day I was glued to Malayalam Channels for want of news
which no other national channels gave. For the national channels it was a small
incident. But for the Keralites it was not. It has far reaching implications
perhaps culminating in the vertical split of a strongest political party in
Kerala.
The killing was not a normal
killing. The brutal hatred was evident - 51 cuts on his face as if to deface him so that even in his death
he should not be identified.
Remember Che guvera – surprisingly many leftist youngsters sportingly wear
T-shirt with his picture.. .what a surprise ! the Marxists in Kerala wanted the
same fate to T.P. himself a Marxist !
What was his sin for such a brutal end ? What did he do to annoy such a big
party ? The reasons are revealed now.
Comrade T.P. Chandrasekharan
was small time party worker who had influence only in a small locality. But he
challenged the diktats of Party bosses. He floated his own party. He
supported V.S. Achuthanandan a CPM
stalwart and the leader of opposition in
Kerala Assembly. That was an outside support for a person inside the party. The
person inside is capable of splitting the party. There lies the importance of
eliminating an outside support. T.P.has been swearing on communist values and
using the same flag which attracted many ordinary folks.
Official party boss Mr.
Pinarayi Vijayan openly talked about T.P. as a traitor.
CPM had always supported
violence although officially they will not agree to it. They will say that it
is not the party line. Some time back the brutal killing of a BJP activist, Mr.
JayaKrishnan, a school teacher in front of students had shaken the minds of
Keralites but not to this extent. The culprits were caught but like in many
other political murders in the state they were let off. CPM was the ruling then
and its police did not find enough evidence. No strong witnesses either. Often
under threat witnesses change their affidavits. So the criminals walk free.
They taunt and roam around with impunity. So when killing becomes a small stroke
of music which can be accomplished easily perhaps the decision to eliminate is
taken more casually. In the killing JK when the criminals were let off the then
State Home Minister, Marxist leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, himself came down to
welcome them. They were given a rousing reception in the same town where the
killing took place ! What a brazen support to violence – That too from a Home
Minister !
We now understand that T P
was a people’s man. He wielded enormous
influence in his locality. He was brave and with clear vision. He wanted to
steer the party from bad doings. With enormous wealth at its disposal party had
become more than of bourgeois party. With its own media, newspaper and TV channels and several business houses and co-operative ventures – ( aka ‘peoples’ ) it bought off every one on the
way. Even its central leadership is powerless and depends upon the state arm
for financial support. So they wont take any stern action against the state
unit. The party almost died in West Bengal – a
natural aging process. So the source of income is from the Kerala state. If the
party is split what happens to the enormous wealth? It is unthinkable. What will happen to Trade
Unions it nurtured and the money it brings? The top official leadership
shudders to think. So they accuse the media that it is masterminding a
plot to destroy the party.
The enquiry is still on .. a
verdict is not immediately expected..
We have to wait and see..
