Kerala CPI(M)'s 'double-standards' come under criticism

The CPM is accused of making bids to trigger communal sentiments during elections.

Thiruvananthapuram: The "double-standards" of CPI(M) in Kerala towards pro-Muslim outfits like the Jama’athe Islami and SDPI is widely being criticised as a bid to woo Hindu votes despite the resentment among the party workers.

The CPI(M), which had earlier entered into political understandings with these outfits, is now vehemently criticising the Congress over "enjoying the support" of such outfits. The CPI(M) is also accused of making bids to trigger communal sentiments during elections, which is not going down well with the party workers at the grass roots levels.

"The CPI(M) in Kerala is now desperately trying to get Hindu sympathy by attacking outfits like Jama’athe Islami and SDPI," said veteran political commentator M N Karasserry.

"The CPI(M) wants to get Hindu votes. It also wants to please the BJP leadership at the Centre so as to avoid actions by central agencies in a range of allegations like gold smuggling to cooperative bank scams. Hence, it is triggering communal sentiments, which is never expected from a communist party."

Karasserry also said that the back to back setbacks suffered by the CPI(M) even in its strongholds indicate that the "double standards and communal politics" of the leadership was not being accepted by the party supporters at the grassroot levels, he said.

Even as the CPI(M) is trying to claim that the victory at its sitting seat Chelakkara in the assembly bypolls indicates support to the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the vote shares in the party's sitting seat fell by nearly 10 per cent. In the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, the left-front's vote share fell by 4 per cent, and in Palakkad assembly seat the vote share fell by 1 per cent.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself was leading the attack against the Congress as well as its key coalition partner Indian Union Muslim League over Jama’athe Islami and SDPI support.

Accusing Vijayan of double standards, Jama’athe Islami said that in 2011, Vijayan, who was the then CPI(M) state secretary, himself held talks with Jama’athe Islami leadership seeking support.

"In six general elections from 1996 to 2015, Jama’athe Islami supported CPI(M). Vijayan's statement that CPI(M) did not seek Jama’athe Islami's support is a blatant lie," said Jama’athe Islami ameer Mujeeb Rahman.

Left-front sources said that there is resentment within the left-front as well as a section in the CPI(M) leadership over the CPI(M)'s alleged communally-toned campaigns. A "communally-toned" advertorial in mouthpieces of two Muslim outfits for Congress rebel-turned left-front candidate Dr P Sarin during Palakkad bypoll had triggered strong resentment within the party.