Kerala fronts’ yatras face bumpy rides
The proposed `Save Kerala’ yatra by the Congress to be flagged off next week is also facing inclement political weather owing to dissatisfaction among those supporting veteran party leader and former chief minister K. Karuanakaran.
By ET Bureau |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the best of times a ride along Kerala���s potholed roads can be a jerky affair. Now the political equivalent of a rough ride on those paths is being experienced by the two leading fronts in the state as they get going on state-wide yatras to drum up support for the respective fronts.
The ruling CPM which kicked off its Nava Kerala Yatra this week has run right into a storm with the yatra captain and party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan being the target of attacks following his name figuring in the list of accused in the SNC Lavalin case.
The proposed `Save Kerala��� yatra by the Congress to be flagged off next week is also facing inclement political weather owing to dissatisfaction among those supporting veteran party leader and former chief minister K. Karuanakaran.
Unlike the CPM���s yatra where the appropriateness of Vijayan leading the rally is being questioned, there is no such controversy over KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala leading the Save Kerala yatra.
However, the Karunakaran camp is reportedly upset over its members not getting the posts they had been promised when the leader returned to the Congress camp after a brief association with the NCP.
In addition, a Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant recently has gone to Vayalar Ravi and not Karunakaran. The veteran leader���s son K Muraleedharan is also in a quandary with the Congress-led United Democratic Front not showing any inclination to let his NCP state unit align with the front in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll.
In comparison, the CPM���s Nava Kerala Yatra appears more turbulent. The faction linked to chief minister V S Achuthanandan has distanced itself from the yatra, and Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to leave it to the politburo to decide on the discordant notes presently haunting the party.
A chappal being flung at Vijayan this week during the yatra has only added fuel to the simmering problems in the CPM, and the state BJP president P K Krishnadas has commented that the CPM yatra was disrupting law and order in the state.
The ruling CPM which kicked off its Nava Kerala Yatra this week has run right into a storm with the yatra captain and party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan being the target of attacks following his name figuring in the list of accused in the SNC Lavalin case.
The proposed `Save Kerala��� yatra by the Congress to be flagged off next week is also facing inclement political weather owing to dissatisfaction among those supporting veteran party leader and former chief minister K. Karuanakaran.
Unlike the CPM���s yatra where the appropriateness of Vijayan leading the rally is being questioned, there is no such controversy over KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala leading the Save Kerala yatra.
However, the Karunakaran camp is reportedly upset over its members not getting the posts they had been promised when the leader returned to the Congress camp after a brief association with the NCP.
In addition, a Rajya Sabha seat that fell vacant recently has gone to Vayalar Ravi and not Karunakaran. The veteran leader���s son K Muraleedharan is also in a quandary with the Congress-led United Democratic Front not showing any inclination to let his NCP state unit align with the front in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll.
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In comparison, the CPM���s Nava Kerala Yatra appears more turbulent. The faction linked to chief minister V S Achuthanandan has distanced itself from the yatra, and Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to leave it to the politburo to decide on the discordant notes presently haunting the party.
A chappal being flung at Vijayan this week during the yatra has only added fuel to the simmering problems in the CPM, and the state BJP president P K Krishnadas has commented that the CPM yatra was disrupting law and order in the state.
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