Kochi: Braving the unrelenting summer sun, hundreds of people waited patiently for opposition leader V S Achuthanandan's arrival at the LDF convention at Udayamperoor near here on Wednesday afternoon.
For the usually faceless, nameless grassroots-level workers--generalized as party cadre--it was a rare occasion. But for CPM, it was a deft political move: to erase from people's collective memory the internal schism and public spats between leaders that often showed CPM in a poor light.
The event at Udayamperoor in Tripunithara assembly constituency had yet another dimension. DYFI state secretary M Swaraj is the LDF candidate here, taking on excise minister K Babu.
Four years ago, Swaraj had allegedly demanded capital punishment for VS, now aged 92. He is the only surviving founding leader of the CPM.
“The factionalism in the party has affected our area badly . We stood behind VS, while the party leadership took action against him one after the other,“ said Suren dran (67), a local-level worker from Eroor. He sat on the front row, occasionally turning around, expecting to see VS walking in.
Surendran, like many other grassroots CPM workers from Tripunithura, is a VS sympathiser, who felt the CPM leadership has been ill-treating the nonagenarian.
In between glances, he spoke: “Today , nobody is willing to work for Swaraj. The UDF has fielded K Babu, who has taken bribe from bar owners, and we wanted a strong candidate. But the leadership airdropped Swaraj, who four years ago, demanded `capital punishment' for VS. Today , the same VS will be seeking votes for Swaraj.“ The dailywage worker already knew what the veteran Marxist would tell them.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Uzhavoor Vijayan continued addressing the gathering, to ensure no one left the venue before VS's arrival. It was, however, unnecessary , since the crowd had been waiting for the leader.
VS's visit was the result of a series of discussions. CPM politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan and Ernakulam district leadership, had been in talks with VS for a week, before the latter agreed to campaign for the young candidate.
Surendran sprang to his feet as slogans thundered from the rear of the venue. VS arrived around 5.10pm, more than an hour behind schedule. The sloganeers reminded the crowd of VS's uncompromising battle against corruption. Swaraj rushed towards the leader and led him to the dais.
VS began his speech, lambasting the Narendra Modi and UDF governments. The crowd waited to hear him speak of Swaraj.
“To oust the highly corrupt UDF government, I request all of you to vote for Swaraj, who is contesting in the party symbol,“ he said towards the end of his 15-minute speech.“Ensure a big win,“ he concluded, even as the applause grew louder.
It was now the candidate's turn. “Revolutionary leader, highly respected, dearest VS..., “ he began. The adjectives triggered a frenzied applause that drowned what Swaraj said next.
Party sympathizers like Surendran, who were sceptical of Swaraj, liked his speech.“Payyan kollam (the boy is good),“ he said.
Achuthanandan, by now, had left the stage for another LDF function, amid another round of thunderous sloganeering. Soon after, Swaraj and CPM district secretary P Rajeeve and others, too, left the venue, relieved.
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