THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While MM Mani's speech in the assembly against KK Rema MLA, the widow of slain TP Chandrashekaran, has created a stir in the Left Front as well, the CPM is trying to cool down the controversy without causing any provocation. The CPM state secretariat yesterday agreed not to reject Mani.

Although the CPM is saying that there was nothing defamatory in Mani's speech, some leaders in the CPM have opined that Mani's statement was not appropriate.

There is also an opinion within the CPM that Mani's speech has once again led to an active discussion on TP Chandrashekaran's assassination. The leadership is trying to avoid the situation where the party is on the defensive in Kozhikode and Kannur regions. CPM feels that there is no need to give weapons to the opponents by making it an emotional issue. The controversy is capable of creating an emotional impact in the ranks, especially in Malabar.

Yesterday, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan avoided the issue without denying Mani.

Even as the CPM downplays the controversial statement as Mani's spontaneous response, there is a strong feeling in the Left Front that the 'widow' remark was a harsh one. The reactions of the CPI leaders make it clear. While CPI leader Annie Raja said that MM Mani had said something that a communist should not have said, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran avoided getting involved in the controversy.

Meanwhile, the opposition has also turned against the Chief Minister who justified Mani's response. Yesterday, the opposition leader said that the blood stain of Chandrasekharan's murder was in the hands of the Chief Minister. Congress leader Mullappally Ramachandran, who was the former Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, said that some big shots had escaped in the TP murder case and the investigation did not proceed after reaching a particular stage.