THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The open fight between the CPM and the CPI over CPI ministers boycotting the Cabinet meet on the Thomas Chandy issue, continued for the second day too.
Determined to givie a fitting reply to the CPI, the CPM on Friday came out with an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Desabhimani’, severely criticising the CPI action.
On Thursday the CPI had carried an editorial in party organ ‘Janayugam’ justifying its action. Unleashing a scathing attack on CPI leadership, the editorial said the very act of publishing a signed editorial by CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran justifying the act of party ministers skipping the Cabinet meet was ‘extraordinary’. The editorial further termed the revenue minister leaving the complaint against Thomas Chandy to the Collector, an unusual act. When there is a complaint against a minister it should be brought to the chief minister. That was not followed here.
The CPM also pointed at the need to follow certain norms in coalition politics. When needed bilateral talks are also being held. The recent developments will not only help the enemy camp but also give a relief to those who want to weaken the Left front. In what appears to be an attempt to justify Chandy, the editorial said the allegations against him pertains to a period before Chandy assumed office. The minister had also rejected all the allegations. Therefore denying him natural justice won’t be desirable.
The editorial further asked the CPI leadership to examine whether the act of boycotting the Cabinet meet was in line with coalition politics. If at all there is any such grave situation, it should have been handled through the LDF leadership, the party pointed out.
Oppn trying to fish in troubled waters: Min
Thrissur: Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar has said the Opposition is raising unnecessary allegations and it is trying to fish in troubled waters. His statement came when ministers from the CPI did not participate in the Cabinet meet while the issue of Thomas Chandy was in discussion. The minister told reporters here such issues used to crop up even when the Opposition was in power.
However, the allegations raised by the Opposition and a few in the press are totally baseless, he said. “The Chief Minister has not lost confidence in the ministers. But the media is trying to create a rift between CPM and CPI. The CPI party secretary and the CPM leaders have already clarified on the issue. Such incidents can happen in the political scenario,” Kumar said. He refused to comment more on the issue.