Thiruvananthapuram:
Is factionalism once again rearing its head in the ruling CPM in Kerala?
A statement by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan indirectly aimed at his party colleague and Minister from the rival faction has angered the party.
The CM was forced to retract his statement, but with just days to go for local body polls in Kerala, are these signs indicative of a fresh divide within the CPM's leadership?
Achuthanandan recently openly admitted to lapses by his government in regulating lotteries from outside the state.
"The lapses in curbing the lottery distributors at the right time has encouraged them to go so far," he had said.
But it was apparently seen by the CPM as an indictment of Finance Minister Thomas Issac, considered close to Achuthanandan's arch-rival and party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.
Distributors of Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries are accused of evading taxes and flouting rules, for which Issac is facing the Opposition's attack.
The CPM, clearly embarrassed, intervened, forcing the Chief Minister to backtrack.
"I don't think there has been any lapses on the issue," Achuthanandan later said.
Sources say the CPM state secretariat had decided to approach the central leadership against the Chief Minister. But with Achuthanandan going on the back foot, the party was quick to put up a show of unity.
This is not the first time that the chief minister has embarrassed the CPM. Achuthanandan's open criticism of Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan over the SNC Lavalin corruption case had led to his expulsion from the politburo last year.
Now signs of a divide within the CPM, coming just days before crucial local body polls, might prove costly for the party electorally.
A statement by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan indirectly aimed at his party colleague and Minister from the rival faction has angered the party.
The CM was forced to retract his statement, but with just days to go for local body polls in Kerala, are these signs indicative of a fresh divide within the CPM's leadership?
Achuthanandan recently openly admitted to lapses by his government in regulating lotteries from outside the state.
"The lapses in curbing the lottery distributors at the right time has encouraged them to go so far," he had said.
But it was apparently seen by the CPM as an indictment of Finance Minister Thomas Issac, considered close to Achuthanandan's arch-rival and party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.
Distributors of Sikkim and Bhutan lotteries are accused of evading taxes and flouting rules, for which Issac is facing the Opposition's attack.
The CPM, clearly embarrassed, intervened, forcing the Chief Minister to backtrack.
"I don't think there has been any lapses on the issue," Achuthanandan later said.
Sources say the CPM state secretariat had decided to approach the central leadership against the Chief Minister. But with Achuthanandan going on the back foot, the party was quick to put up a show of unity.
This is not the first time that the chief minister has embarrassed the CPM. Achuthanandan's open criticism of Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan over the SNC Lavalin corruption case had led to his expulsion from the politburo last year.
Now signs of a divide within the CPM, coming just days before crucial local body polls, might prove costly for the party electorally.
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