CM Pinarayi's U-turn on sensitive data disclosures, coupled with the  BJP's election triumph in Thrissur suggests a shifting balance of power

Man, woman and Child was a novel by best-selling author Erich Segal (1937-2010) which has been translated into many languages. It was made into a movie in English as well as in many languages. Our own Shekhar Kapur shot the movie Masoom based on the same novel.

Well, Masoom, and “Man, Woman and Child” came to mind after seeing the plight of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the last fortnight.  Vijayan, known for his determination, decisiveness and dictatorial tendencies, was a pale shadow of his old self during the last few weeks. Though he was seen laughing at flippant questions put to him by some of the journalists “studying to become Kerala’s own Lutyens media”, it was visible that Vijayan had lost most of his demeanour which in the past had silenced his detractors and rivals alike. The U-turn made by him viz-a-viz the data about the seizure of smuggled gold and hawala cash from Malappuram had shocked even his critics. Various Islamist organisations expressed their displeasure over the quantity of gold and amount of illegal money seized from Malappuram which houses the Calicut International Airport. Though the Chief Minister had disclosed these figures in the 140-minute long press meet held on September 21 at Thiruvananthapuram,  newspapers  and TV channels did carry it in their reports.

The present controversy in Kerala had its roots in the meetings held by M R Ajith Kumar, Additional Director General of Police with two senior RSS leaders in 2023 and the fiasco of the 2024 edition of Thrissur Pooram, Kerala’s mega cultural extravaganza, the impressive victory scored by the BJP candidate Suresh Gopi in the Lok Sabha poll from Thrissur constituency and the unprecedented increase in gold smuggling and hawala dealings in Malappuram district are much ado about nothing.

The ADGP has every authority to meet the people of his choice as part of his policing job is known to one and all. Many IPS officers and intelligence officers with whom this issue was taken up were unanimous in their view that there was nothing wrong with the ADGP calling on RSS leaders.

 One of the severe critics of the meeting between Ajit Kumar and RSS bosses is Binoy Viswam, the CPI Kerala secretary, who has been crying for the ADGP’s blood for violating the Lakshman Rekha (or is it the Lenin Rekha?).

But what is left unsaid is that Surya Binoy, daughter of  Binoy Viswam, is a standing counsel of the BJP Government the Centre, yet another branch of the RSS! Binoy Viswam, who considers himself the global face of Communism and a stickler for propriety should openly admit that his criticism of RSS is with an eye on the minority vote bank.

The Congress, CPI and the Muslim League allege that the CPI(M) had a tacit understanding with the Sangh Parivar to ensure the victory of Suresh Gopi in the Lok Sabha election. How is it possible for the CPI(M) to make Suresh Gopi emerge as a winner in a high pitch election which saw about 11 lakh voters turning out to cast their votes? The internal fights in Congress and the ire among the Christians over the CPI(M) bending backwards to placate the Muslims are seen as the factors that led to Gopi’s win.

What made Vijayan disown what he had said on September 21 press meet and which was used by the reporter of the Chennai-based daily on September 30 is yet another proof of the Islamists tightening their control over Kerala. P Jayarajan, a CPI(M) strongman, had told in a TV interview last month that the dreaded IS and Islamist extremists have made Kerala into a hub for recruiting jihadis to fight in Syria and Kashmir.This too was blacked out by the secular and liberal media in the State. Who is calling the kettle black?

(The writer is South India bureau chief of the Pioneer; views are personal)