One of the significant political developments in Kerala in recent times was the acquittal of CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the Lavalin case by a court and his subsequently gaining an upper hand in CPM.
As LDF is poised well for the next assembly polls, his chances of becoming the next CM have become brighter. This has an added political significance, especially since there was a belief till recently that Vijayan would not overcome the Lavalin hurdle anytime soon.
While looking at this way, one may think that Vijayan has outlived a legal and political battle. But can he maintain the current advantage in Kerala politics for long? The squabble in CPM between Vijayan and Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan was quite natural in a Stalinist party like the CPM.
One’s intellectual capacity or talent has no role in such a party to rise to the top. One only needs to know the tricks of fighting within the centralized structure of such parties to gain power. Vijayan and Achuthanandan know such tricks. Even EMS Namboodiripad survived in the party not because of his intellectual abilities, but because of his knack of playing such tricks.
Vijayan had gained a name as a good electricity minister. If those in power care to have some discipline, they can do wonders in a democracy like ours. Vijayan did exactly that. But it must be borne in mind that he got into trouble with the Lavalin deal during the same period only. Though he obtained a favourable order in the case from a sessions court, it is not the final word.
Vijayan succeeded against Achuthanandan in CPM in the initial days by making use of the centralized power structure of the party. But Achuthanandan tilted the equation in his favour when he made use of the possibilities of electoral politics which were beyond the centralized structure of the party. Achuthanandan could capitalize on his popularity as Opposition Leader to become the CM candidate of the party in 2006.
When the issue of seeking the governor’s approval for prosecuting Vijayan in the Lavalin case came up, Achuthanandan did something unthinkable for a Stalinist Communist – he went with the “bourgeois” Constitutional principles of the country and took the initiative as CM to prosecute Vijayan.
But with his acquittal in the Lavalin case, Vijayan has turned the tables on Achuthanandan and has now gained an upper hand in the party. Analaysing the power struggle in CPM, one can understand that Vijayan is still not on firm ground as anytime the legal system can turn against him if an upper court decides to hear an appeal against his acquittal.
It may also be noted that when Indian politics is going through amazing experiments like the one produced by the Aam Aadmi Party, what is the significance of outdated Stalinist politics being pursued by the like of Vijayan.
(The writer is a political analyst.)
