THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI(M) in Kerala seems to be building an alternative citadel of power within the state, by making a mockery of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of the government and by disregarding the constitutional powers vested with the latter. The rowdy behaviour of some of the party’s MLAs underlines this trend, which includes the hideous assault on a lady watch and ward staff in the Assembly.
The judiciary is another institution which is a victim of this political party. The cadres are under the impression that the more they mock at authority, the stronger the party will be.
What started out as the party’s customary way of breaking the law through bandhs, hartals and street violence has now deteriorated into open defiance of the judges. The party is not just brow-beating the judiciary but intimidating the judges and the latest instance is a remark by CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan, who called a judge an ‘idiot’.
Jayarajan threw a public challenge against the Kerala High Court order banning rallies and processions on public roads for causing inconvenience to the public. The party termed the court order as a threat to the right to freedom of speech and expression.
The fight between CPI(M) and the judiciary is not new. In March last year, the high court came down heavily on the LDF government for its failure to maintain law and order. Hearing a bail application in a murder case, Justice K Ram Kumar said the court would have to intervene in a very strong manner if things did not improve.
The court has also trained its guns at former Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, noting that his constituency Thalassery in Kannur district was a haven for criminal gangs. Reacting to the court observation Kodiyeri said that the views of some judges are politically motivated. The first CPI(M) leader to face contempt of court case was the late EMS Namboothiripad, 40 years ago.