Thennala, who had 17 acres of land at start of his political career, was left with 11 cents of swampy land while retiring from politics

It is generally said that the shine of the Khaddar worn by politicians will fade. However, when Thennala Balakrishna Pillai wears Khaddar, we feel that its whiteness and purity shine tenfold. The 'Thennala path' in politics is not an easy one to follow. There is a reason. In this field where there are many who want position and wealth, it is difficult to imitate the example set by Thennala Balakrishna Pillai.

When he stepped into the local unit of the Congress from a very wealthy family in Sooranad, Kollam under pressure from locals, Thennala had 17 acres of land in his name. When he held various positions including MLA twice, Rajya Sabha member three times, and KPCC President twice, this asset usually increases. But when he returned to his self-imposed retirement from politics, it was limited to just eleven cents (swamp land). When he contested for the assembly four times, including two defeats, he sold many lands for election funds. Later, he had to repeat that path for everything!

If you ask him about the opportunities he missed in politics, he would laugh. The laughter of the wealth of experience that has seen the times. If you ask whether Thennala was in K Karunakaran's group, you cannot say no. However, he was acceptable for A K Antony also. When asked about the fact that both of them abandoned at a crucial stage, Thennala's reply was that no one abandons anyone, and that in politics, every situation and decision is made accordingly.

Pondicherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy had once asked Thennala how he could take along Antony and K Karunakaran together while serving as KPCC chief. He replied that he respected both. But no other KPCC presidents have faced such injustice as Thennala had to face.

When the UDF came to power with a huge majority under the leadership of the Congress in the 2001 assembly elections, Thennala was the KPCC chief. When he was rejoicing after leading the party to victory, high command representatives called him to Thycaud Guest House in Thiruvananthapuram. They put forward a formula before him that when A K Antony becomes the chief minister, K Muraleedharan should be made KPCC chief. They were a bit confused while presenting this before Thennala. He immediately asked them when should he resign. Ghulam Nabi Azad said, ‘as soon as possible’. He said fine and left there with a smile as usual.

He reached KPCC office and got the typist Sreekumar type the resignation letter and then went straight home in his car.

The next day, despite repeated questions from reporters, Thennala did not utter a single word except that ‘everyone knows everything.’ That is the party discipline. When asked Thennala whether Antony and Karunakaran knew all this, he repeatedly replied that everyone knows everything and that it was all according to the circumstances. Although Thennala did not respond, the media openly wrote about the internal drama inside the Congress. Later, while serving as Congress president, Sonia Gandhi thanked Thennala for making the party win. She regretfully told him that she was not aware of the internal drama that happened in Kerala.

Sending Thennala to the third Rajya Sabha term was just a solution to pacify him. Thennala twice represented the Adoor constituency in the legislative assembly. Once he was considered for the ministerial berth. At the last minute, a young leader became a minister at the request of the leader. Even then, Thennala's face did not turn black. Thennala was the chairman of many of the investigation committees appointed by the party, including Karunakaran's defeat in Thrissur. Only a few people know that it was Thennala who, in discussions with the leader, put forward the idea of making CH the Chief Minister in order to keep the dominant faction in the League together, in the event that a faction in the League left the UDF.

He will not go out of the way to help anyone. If it is a fair matter, help is guaranteed. If he had not entered politics, Thennala would have been a good chartered accountant. He wanted to become that while studying. Thennala settled the accounts of the aspirations of many people in politics. But never looked at his own account.