'Why should cadres shield Veena Vijayan?' Discord within CPM over ED raid ruckus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The party leadership and cadres were out on the streets to shield opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and her daughter Veena during the Enforcement Directorate raids in Thiruvananthapuram. About 25 activists were arrested and then remanded for unleashing violence and attacking ED officials. The incident has not boded well with CPM.

In the Kollam area committee meeting, an opinion was raised that the cadres should not be summoned if ED comes again to quiz Veena Vijayan. This shows the discord within the party over CPM cadres adopting violence to save the former chief minister's daughter from the central investigation agencies.

There were also questions raised in the committee on why the cadres should hit the streets in protest against the ED action on Veena Vijayan. Some others expressed dismay over cadres getting arrested without bail for engaging in a case that was not related to the party.

Another section pointed out the party stance when the central agency took action against the late leader Kodiyeri’s son, Bineesh Kodiyeri, when Kodiyeri was the CPM state secretary. Kodiyeri's stance was not to disrupt the investigation and even opined that his son should be punished if he committed any wrong. However, the party's state secretary and district leaders took to the streets to protest the ED action against Veena Vijayan, in total contrast to Kodiyeri’s case.

The double standard was out in the open. There is concern within the ranks that the party will be more defensive if there is a setback in court. Some also raised the question of CPM losing their chance to attack the UDF government amid this controversy.