THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The massive response received by Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan at the historic plantation workers strike in Munnar on Sunday has yet again sent a strong message to CPM leadership that those who stand with the masses would be counted.
The 92-year-old leader undeterred by his age or the hilly terrain, rushed to ground zero to become one among thousands on the streets.
His language was clearly different from the one used by CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan the other day. While Achuthanandan said he came to Munnar to become a part of the workers and wouldn't budge till their demands were met, Kodiyeri sounded more like a typical trade union bosse when he said ; “don’t worry the party will take over your agitation.”
So why did Achuthanandan succeed where all other politicians failed ? Those close to him say the veteran leader still enjoyed the goodwill of poor plantation workers because of his bold anti- encroachment drive in Munnar in 2007.
Even at that time there was an organised propaganda by a section of trade union leaders, politicians and resort mafia dubbing the drive as anti poor.
chuthanandan not only promised but ensured that not a single poor person was evicted from his property. This is the reason why plantation workers believed every word spoken by the veteran leader.
For the moment, the opposition leader is elated. He presided over plantation workers massive victory even if the stir was not organised by his party.
For him, the success was sweet since most agitations launched by his own party in the recent past had either fizzled out or failed to make any impact.
Clearly, Munnar agitation has once again proved that Achuthanandan not only continues to be CPM's most popular leader but also someone whom people trust more than anyone else.
Though it is too early to predict about his role in the next Assembly elections , given the kind of interventions that he is making one can say for sure that he would be around as a major player.
