ED letter puts Pinarayi Vijayan under pressure within CPM ahead of key meeting

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) letter could become a major weapon for the anti-Pinarayi faction within the CPM at the party’s extended state committee meeting convened to discuss correcting its mistakes.

The letter has weakened the shield the party leadership had built to prevent discussions on the reasons behind the election defeat. The leadership is now concerned about how the anti-Pinarayi faction may use the ED’s letter against various leaders during the meeting.

The issue may prove difficult to contain through Pinarayi Vijayan’s authority alone. The positions taken by the CPM’s most powerful leader could now face open criticism within the party. If that happens, discussions on correcting the party’s mistakes could take a different turn. Any dissent within the party could put Pinarayi Vijayan under greater pressure.

So far, the CPM has stood firmly behind Pinarayi Vijayan on the ED issue. From the outset, the party has maintained that the ED’s action against his daughter, Veena Vijayan, was aimed at Pinarayi himself. Any change in this position could weaken the party’s defence against the ED.

With the CPM preparing for serious discussions on correcting its mistakes, the party views the ED’s move as part of a political pressure campaign. The CPM state committee has assessed that the letter was sent at this juncture to discredit the party and its leaders and create confusion. The issue was discussed at the CPM state committee meeting held on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, if a case is registered, the CPM may seek to counter it by alleging a deal between the BJP and the UDF. The party is likely to campaign that the case was registered based on the political understanding that emerged during the elections.

‘Don’t think that we are scared’: Mohammed Riyas

Former minister Mohammed Riyas said the “script is good” and that the political motives behind the move had already been stated earlier.

“We are now hearing stories about people biting into the flesh of a living person and enjoying it. Let them proceed in their own way. No one needs to think that anyone has been frightened by the ED investigation. We will not hide or run away out of fear of the investigations or raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate,” Riyas said.

“Let any investigation take place. We have not done anything wrong. There is no reason to be afraid in any way. It is the UDF government that has to decide whether to register a case or not. Our innocence can be fully proved,” he added.