KOZHIKODE: The Navakerala Yathra led by CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has succeeded in activating the party machinery and projecting him as the leading light of the party in the next Assembly elections.
This time, the party has ensured the presence of families in the march besides the cadres and tried to communicate with the people beyond its regular class frame.
The march could reach out to patients, differentially-abled and the Endosulfan victims, say party leaders.
The Yatra was designed to redefine the image of Mr Vijayan, who has so far appeared as a rough and tough leader. In every press conference, Mr Vijayan struggles to laugh, giggle and be soft.
The Yatra created a wave in Kannur district. Over 3,000 CPM branches worked overtime to make it different with the participation of women and families.
If a party branch is assigned to ensure hundred workers for the reception of the march, the CPM can parade three lakh workers in the programmes organised across the district, it was pointed out.
The party is also cautious about the growing presence of the BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits in the district.
Kannur district secretary P. Jayarajan told DC that the Yatra had brought all sections of society closer to the party. It was aimed at strengthening the party ties with the weaker and alienated sections and the targets were achieved, he added.
Each district committee has been asked to prepare a detailed list of the places where the Yatra should touch and the institutions and individuals that Mr Vijayan should visit.
However, the foes of the party say that the size of the crowd is not a yardstick to gauge the success of a campaign. It is easy for the CPM to parade thousands for its programmes in Malabar.
In fact, the Yatra faced a crisis even in the beginning itself with the High Court again considering the Lavalin case, it was pointed out.
RMP state general secretary N. Venu told DC that the Yatra had no relevance as it is headed by a tainted leader like Mr Vijayan.
The corruption related to Lavalin case was again back in the limelight. On the popularity of the Yatra, he said that just because the Yatra was led by Mr Vijayan, large sections of party workers would keep away from it.
