Thiruvananthapuram: Contrary to the practice of the CPM state leadership guiding and monitoring the work of LDF Government in the state, the party state leadership seems to have become a silent spectator or is playing second fiddle to the government. The latest instance came out in the open when CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that there was nothing wrong in Damodaran appearing in cases as long the state government was not the opposite party. When asked about Damodaran appearing for tainted INTUC leader R Chandrashekharan in corruption case against the state government, the state secretary had promised to look into the matter and comeback.
However, now with chief minister justifying Damaodaran’s position, there was nothing much that one could expect from the party leadership. Ideally, the state leadership should have intervened to ensure that embarrassing situations that bring a bad name to the government were avoided. However, such interventions seem to be missing at the moment.
While the party leaders claim that collective leadership was running the government, the same was not visible on the ground if some of the recent incidents are any indication. Sources said during the tenure of previous LDF governments, the state leadership of the party had played a key role in giving direction to the ruling dispensation.
The party fraction among the ministers was always vigilant so ensue that the government did not go against the well stated positions of the party. However, the same cannot be said about the present government conclusively. The biggest criticism against the present government is that it is less communicative. In the times of information revolution, keeping away from the media or not interacting with them at regular intervals, could only prove counter productive.
The chief minister has maintained that he would speak to the media when it is necessary and would not like to do the job of PR. However, observers say Pinarayi Vijayan was missing a point. They say Cabinet briefing is also a platform to discuss the politics of the government. Issuing press statements may be convenient for the ministers, but by avoiding engagement with the media the government was leaving the field open for wild speculations which can confuse people.
