Kerala Left bloc faces an implosion
Dissension is hardly a new dimension in politics anywhere, but the extent of diverse pulls that is unraveling in the Left Democratic Front in Kerala is hard to beat.
By Joe A Scaria, ET Bureau |
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dissension is hardly a new dimension in politics anywhere, but the extent of diverse pulls that is unraveling in the Left Democratic Front in Kerala is hard to beat.
While individual parties within the coalition are witnessing divisive trends, there are also inter-party squabbles that have mostly to do with the way the CPM shared the seats pie among the coalition members.
The leader of the coalition, CPM, is faced with faction feud, the Janata Dal (Secular) is considered to be on the verge of a split, and another ally Kerala Congress (J) is finding it difficult to fathom what its leader P C Thomas is up to.
Comparatively, two other coalition partners CPI and the RSP seem to be experiencing better cohesion in their ranks, but whether that calmness is a lull before the parties vent their anger at the CPM is difficult to predict. Both CPI and RSP had been sidelined in the Left bloc seat allocation exercise, prompting both parties to publicly express displeasure about the CPM's attitude to coalition members.
The worst off of the lot at the moment is the Janata Dal (S), which after being denied any seat, is now on the verge of witnessing a split right down the middle. Its sole minister in the V S Achuthanadan cabinet, Mathew T Thomas, who put in his resignation after JD(S) was denied the Kozhikode seat, has now broken party guidelines regarding support to the CPM.
Mr Thomas and another MLA, Jose Thettayil are both seen to be moving away from official position of the JD(S), and speculation is rife that a split is in the offing in JD(S), which has five MLAs.
The Kerala Congress (J) faces a different problem, with its lone MP, P C Thomas threatening to break away. Mr Thomas won as an independent from Muvattupuzha in 2004, floated the Indian Federal Democratic Party, and later joined the Kerala Congress (J). With the Muvattupuzha constituency itself vanishing in the new demarcation of constituencies, and no seat to contest, Mr Thomas is seen to be biding his time for his next move.
Observers here say that both JD(S) and Kerala Congress (J) may see a formal break-up only after the election is over. But going to war with members fighting their own little battles could give nightmares to the Left bloc.
While individual parties within the coalition are witnessing divisive trends, there are also inter-party squabbles that have mostly to do with the way the CPM shared the seats pie among the coalition members.
The leader of the coalition, CPM, is faced with faction feud, the Janata Dal (Secular) is considered to be on the verge of a split, and another ally Kerala Congress (J) is finding it difficult to fathom what its leader P C Thomas is up to.
Comparatively, two other coalition partners CPI and the RSP seem to be experiencing better cohesion in their ranks, but whether that calmness is a lull before the parties vent their anger at the CPM is difficult to predict. Both CPI and RSP had been sidelined in the Left bloc seat allocation exercise, prompting both parties to publicly express displeasure about the CPM's attitude to coalition members.
The worst off of the lot at the moment is the Janata Dal (S), which after being denied any seat, is now on the verge of witnessing a split right down the middle. Its sole minister in the V S Achuthanadan cabinet, Mathew T Thomas, who put in his resignation after JD(S) was denied the Kozhikode seat, has now broken party guidelines regarding support to the CPM.
Mr Thomas and another MLA, Jose Thettayil are both seen to be moving away from official position of the JD(S), and speculation is rife that a split is in the offing in JD(S), which has five MLAs.
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The Kerala Congress (J) faces a different problem, with its lone MP, P C Thomas threatening to break away. Mr Thomas won as an independent from Muvattupuzha in 2004, floated the Indian Federal Democratic Party, and later joined the Kerala Congress (J). With the Muvattupuzha constituency itself vanishing in the new demarcation of constituencies, and no seat to contest, Mr Thomas is seen to be biding his time for his next move.
Observers here say that both JD(S) and Kerala Congress (J) may see a formal break-up only after the election is over. But going to war with members fighting their own little battles could give nightmares to the Left bloc.
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