THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM's tactics of trying to bring the opposition under control by raising allegations are backfiring. The fake certificate controversies involving SFI leaders are also affecting the party's image.

The CPM made the first move by attempting to bring the Congress and the opposition under control by registering cases against the KPCC president and the opposition leader.

However, CPM state secretary MV Govindan's move to attack KPCC president K Sudhakaran based on the news in the party mouthpiece turned out to be a huge mistake. Govindan alleged that Sudhakaran was also present when Monson Mavunkal, who was sentenced to life in the POCSO case, was torturing the survivor. However, the CPM found itself on the defensive after the Crime Branch clarified that Sudhakaran's name was not mentioned in the statement given by the girl. The opposition asked how Govindan learned of the girl's statement if it had been given in confidence to the court.

Despite the party secretary making a mistake, there was little protection from the left centres. Minister V Sivankutty was the only CPM leader who came out in support of MV Govindan. The constituent parties of the Left Front also remained silent. Opposition leader VD Satheesan demanded that a case should be filed against MV Govindan, who is behaving like a Home Minister and Super DGP, and the party mouthpiece. KC Venugopal said that the chief minister and some other centres conspired to trap the KPCC president in a false case. Sudhakaran also clarified that he will file a defamation case against Govindan.