'No more political interviews'; K Satchidanandan after 'CPM remark' row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eminent poet and Kerala Sahitya Akademi President K. Satchidanandan had to eat his words as he took back his earlier remark about the waning popularity of CPM in Kerala. According to Satchidanandan, his ‘witty remark’ was twisted by the media to give political colours amidst the ongoing election in Puthuppally.

According to the Facebook post:

Our media ethics are strange. In the two-hour interview with Indian Express, I tried to clarify the danger of the rise of right extremists in politics and also mentioned broadly the positives of the left front which is inclusive and gives certain reverence to Gandhi as well as Ambedkar. At the same time, I also took a jibe at the complacent nature of LDF in Kerala, but it was a pun nevertheless. The media cropped those certain portions and the same appeared on YouTube as if I was lashing attack at Left front parties.

Other media portals cribbed the same lines and joined the bandwagon of social media attacks. It is in this context that I have posted below about the current state of Kerala. In this context, I have decided not to attend any kind of political debates in Kerala, anymore. I will use my pen for more clarity rather than indulging in any kind of speech.

“As we have seen in West Bengal, two terms can make a party complacent and can destroy it. I am telling comrades, pray that you will not come to power next time. Because that will be the end of the party.”- This was Satchidanandan’s earlier statement that created a controversy.