For CPM in Kerala, mum’s the word on AMMA row

Though individual senior CPM leaders have expressed strong concern, the party is yet to make any public remark.

CPM Kerala state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan ( EPS | B P Deepu)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the decision to reinstate actor Dileep into the actors’ association and subsequent resignation of four female actors have been creating ripples in Kerala society, the CPM has been maintaining a deafening silence. Despite the fact the actors’ body has three people’s representatives belonging to the Left Front and holding responsible roles, the CPM has not responded on the issue so far. Demands have come from within the Left that the party should make its stance clear. With the party state secretariat set to convene on Friday, all eyes are on the CPM.

Though individual senior CPM leaders have expressed strong concern, the party is yet to make any public remark. Curiously, the CPI has openly lashed out against AMMA. Senior Left leaders feel the three LDF leaders in AMMA — MLAs Ganesh Kumar, Mukesh and Innocent MP — should have taken a more guarded approach.“Being Left MLAs and MP, people expect a lot from them. The Left leaders have a responsibility and they owe a lot to the people. They should have taken a more guarded approach while taking such decisions,” said a Central Committee member.

“It’s unfortunate the party does not feel the need to respond and make itself clear when it’s most needed. In fact if the CPM had come out with its official stance, things would have got a different dimension,” said a senior Left Front leader. The CPI was one of the first to respond when the female actors quit. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran, who way back as a trade unionist had lashed out at mega stars during the Thilakan row, openly backed the female actors for quitting AMMA.

“The CPI has always made its stance clear in such issues. The new developments have once again put the focus on the Thilakan row,” Kanam told Express. On Wednesday, CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan issued a statement while Finance Minister Thomas Isaac termed it a “misogynistic attitude” of the Malayalam film industry. Politburo member M A Baby also slammed the move.

A day later, many senior leaders, including ministers G Sudhakaran, K K Shylaja, Mercykutty Amma and Women’s Commission chairperson M C Josephine, individually came out against the actors’ body for its anti-woman stance. “It seems the CPM has begun some interventions and damage control. The developments on Thursday evening could be the outcome of these intervention,” said a CPI leader.