In a huge setback for the Kerala CPI(M)’s move to field film stars and other celebrities as candidates for the crucial May 16 Assembly polls by neglecting grassroots sentiments, actress KPAC lalitha on Monday turned down the leadership’s offer to make her the left’s Independent candidate in Wadakanchery following protests from within the party.
Though the 69-year-old actress has cited health problems and commitments already made in the film industry as reasons for her withdrawal, indications are that her decision is connected to the protests in the constituency against the proposal to field her. The protests had appeared in the form of poster campaigns and demonstrations.
lalitha has already informed the CPI(M) leadership about her decision. Denying that she had withdrawn from candidature due to the protests, she said, “Nobody had forced me to take this decision. There is no other reason than my health problems. Please don’t think otherwise,” the actress, who had initially refused to take the protests seriously, said.
“When I told the party leaders about my decision, they were sad. But I am sure that I won’t be able to go through the work the candidature would demand. I just can’t…” she told newsmen. lalitha’s withdrawal is a huge setback for the CPI(M) leadership as hers was one of the first names the State party secretariat itself had proposed for candidature.
Moreover, the development is sure to act as an inspiration and give confidence to partymen and sympathizers who are opposing the candidates proposed by the State and district leaderships. “Wadakanchery has shown the way. Now protesters in other places are sure to get a new confidence,” admitted a party leader in Kollam where such issues have already come up.
Objections have come up to the leadership’s decision to ‘parachute’ candidates of its choice in several constituencies. Protests are said to be raging within the party against the leadership’s reported choice of film star Mukesh as the left’s candidate in Kollam and its proposal to field TV personality Veena George in Aranmula.
Though lalitha had at first refused to take the first protests that appeared in the form of a poster campaign three days back seriously, she informed the party leadership about her decision to withdraw after open demonstrations by partymen and fellow-travelers were held in Wadakanchery on Sunday.
Following this, a CPI(M) team led by district secretary AC Moideen, former Wadakanchery MlA, had called on her on Sunday night to ask her not to give in to the protests. In order to reassure her, Moideen had taken Xavier Chittilappilly, whom the protesters wanted as the party candidate in Wadakanchery, along with him on the visit.
“The development is indeed a big reminder for the party - that it should not field candidates without taking into account local sentiments. CPI(M) may still have a centralized power structure but it should understand that times are changing,” said a former CPI(M) theorist in Kochi.
“We have nothing against lalitha Chechi (Sister lalitha). She is a great actor and has been a leftist throughout her life. But that is not the issue here. When there are able, energetic, committed and popular comrades who can work effectively for the constituency, why should the leadership parachute candidatesIJ” asked a CPI(M) member who took part in Sunday’s protests.
However, sources close to the State CPI(M) leadership say that the party is determined to deal strictly with the partymen who had forced lalitha to withdraw from the poll scene with their protests and also with those who have been protesting against candidates proposed by it in other constituencies.