The CPM cadre engaged in bringing their sure voters to the booths in Neyyatinkara were embarrassed by the news of VS Achuthanandan’s visit to Onchiyam on Saturday.
A journalist associated with the party mouthpiece, apparently shocked by VS’s torpedo, observed that VS was giving a clear message to his followers estimated to number over 10,000 in the constituency. “The LDF had managed to give a tough fight in the last few days of the campaign. VS too had contributed to it through his one-day whirlwind tour in the last lap. But with the visit to TP’s house, he has torpedoed the winning chances of the LDF candidate,’’ a top CPM leader, who preferred anonymity, told Express.
However, CPI state secretary Pannian Ravindran has a different view. He told Express that the VS visit was a humanitarian gesture. ‘’The discussion is about choosing the timing of his visit. It was his choice to decide on the timing,’’ he said. Pannian felt that the visit would not have any impact on the electoral prospects of the LDF candidate. Even if it created any confusion, by the time more than half of the voters had cast their franchise, Pannian pointed out.
VS had booked the ticket for a morning flight from Kozhikode to Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Taking everyone by surprise, VS decided to go to Onchiyam causing utter disbelief to everyone. As expected, he could once again steal the show at Onchiyam where a large slogan-shouting crowd waited for him. With the party already facing an uphill task to tide over the unprecedented crisis caused by the TP murder, the VS visit to the slain leader’s house after a gap of 29 days has put the party leadership in an unenviable position.
The situation has reached a level from where the party can no longer move ahead without taking harsh decisions. As the party secretariat meet is slated for next Monday and the central committee meet on June 9 and 10, a decision on VS would become inevitable.