THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even though the CPM has managed to silence Finance Minister Thomas Isaac from openly lashing out at vigilance raids at KSFE offices, political observers feel that the recent developments show that the party is witnessing unrest itself.

While the CPM's Thrissur convention concluded with state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's announcement that sectarianism in the party had completely ended, unrest seems to be developing during the final days of the Pinarayi government.

Many in the party leadership are not ready to trivialize Isaac's response as a sudden emotional outburst. The Chief Minister, who had strongly justified the amendment to the Police Act, had to withdraw the amendment the next day in the wake of criticism from the party's central leadership. Later, Thomas Isaac, a member of the party's central committee, publicly criticized the raids conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau at the KSFE offices. While the ED's investigation has put the government on the defensive, he may have felt that the criticisms raised against VACB will receive political support. He might have thought that this criticism might force the CM to make yet another correction in his department.

Political observers are quick to point out that these developments came soon after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stepped down as party's state secretary. Though Isaac has acknowledged lack of vigilance from his part, he seemed to be unsettled with the vigilance raids.