Despite the NIA and ED failing to make any progress into the gold smuggling scam probe, the CPI(M)-led Kerala Government has lost a lot of sheen.
Friday turned out to be another shocker for the LDF Government as it was disclosed that the LIFE Mission apartments being built in Thrissur district with financial assistance from Red Crescent of the UAE does not have the mandatory approval from the Centre.
When Pinarayi Vijayan was appointed as the Secretary of the CPI(M)’s Kerala wing in 1998, journalists asked V S Achuthanandan, the then strongman of the party why the former who was hardly 53 was elected to the post overlooking other veterans. “It is a long term investment for the party,” replied VS.
VS was proved right as the CPI(M) grew from strength to strength over the next two decades under the watchful eyes of Vijayan. Till three months ago, the CPI(M) in Kerala was invincible and looked like it would break a jinx haunting the ruling parties in the State. Recent history has never seen the ruling party returning to power in the next election because of strong anti-incumbency wave. Though the CPI(M) had earned the wrath of the Hindu voters during the 2019 Lok Sabha election on account of its mishandling of the Sabarimala Temple issue, the party had recovered the lost ground by winning three of the six assembly seats which saw by-elections.
Though there were no shortages of corruption charges against the CPI(M), the Congress-led UDF had failed to capitalise on them and all allegations got washed away on account of a pro-CPI(M) media in the State.