ALAPPUZHA: V. S. Achuthanandan's continuous gesture attending functions organised by former party colleagues and his loyalists has become a matter of worry for the CPI (M) leadership in the district.
The latest function held at Cherthala to launch the Social Justice, Palliative Care and Anti-Corruption Movement (SPAM) of the dissidents on Wednesday faced last-minute “unofficial” ban forcing legislators A. M. Arif and T. M. Thomas Isaac to back out.
But his loyalists say the party is scared of his huge popularity among the cadres and the image as an anti-corruption crusader. One of them said the nonagenarian would still be able to mobilise a large chunk of cadres and the public, which was evident at his meetings, and the leadership is in dire straits.
“The verbal ban was imposed on the local leaders but it wasn’t made public as the controversial Mannar meeting,” he said. “(Charges of corruption) are an effective tool against rivals but how can we use it since (central committee member) Elamaram Kareem is also facing similar charges, he adds”.
Many believe the corruption allegations against the former industries minister, with Mr Achuthanandan almost endorsing it, has put the party on the back foot and its anti-corruption plank has suffered a huge blow.
Mr Achuthanandan keeps raising the issue of corruption and rallies people around him though the district leadership has not invited him even to a single programme since the state party congress held here in February.
The party is now gearing up for the district-level organic farming campaign to be kicked off by politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday, which the leadership wants to see as a big success.
