The CPI(M) leaders who used to boast that they would never change their political stance for “a few votes” in the context of the Sabarimala controversy are eating their words as the party continues to face Hindu backlash in certain areas of the State. The Hindu anger over the way the CPI(M) leaders and the Government had handled the Sabarimala issue in the wake of the Supreme Court allowing entry of women of all ages had led to the rout of the Left parties in the last Lok Sabha elections.The CPI(M) managed to win only a single seat.
The Lok Sabha election rout coupled with the realisation that BJP is eating into its Hindu vote base has forced the CPI(M) to rethink and shed its anti-Hindu stance. Party cadres were fanned out to the houses of its supporters who were angry with the Government’s strong-arm tactics on Sabarimala devotees to “explain to them that the party was not against Hindus” and that the party had erred in its judgment. In the last local body election, to calm the Hindu tempers, in most places, it fielded ‘independent’ candidates and saw to it that they did not contest in the party symbol. There was no photograph or cut-out of Pinarayi Vijayan who was not only embroiled in a slew of corruption charges but was at the receiving end of Hindu ire. Although it managed to maintain its upper hand in the local body elections by winning more seats than its rivals, the outcome showed a trend of declining Hindu votes, which is the mainstay of the party.
The Marxist leaders who had the habit of hurting Hindu sentiments by making banal comments about Hindu Gods are now bending over backwards to show their devotion in the Hindu faith. Motor-mouth Suraj, who notoriously claimed that the presiding deity of Sabarimala, Shri Ayyappa, is no more celibate, as his marriage with Goddess Malikappuram had taken place, much to the chagrin of Hindus. Now he is indulging in temple hopping to woo Hindu voters.
The Marxist leaders who had the habit of hurting Hindu sentiments by making banal comments about Hindu Gods are now bending over backwards to show their devotion in the Hindu faith. Motor-mouth Suraj, who notoriously claimed that the presiding deity of Sabarimala, Shri Ayyappa, is no more celibate, as his marriage with Goddess Malikappuram had taken place, much to the chagrin of Hindus
Kadakampally Surendran who as the Devaswom Board Minister facilitated the entry of Urban Naxal women activists to Sabarimala expressed regret over the events in 2018. Surendranrecently said that such an incident ‘should have never happened’. He said the Sabarimala row ‘pained’ him and the Government would implement the final verdict of the court only after consultation with devotees, political parties and the general public.
Interestingly, the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M), had put up posters saying that it would prevent young women from entering Sabarimala. It had forsaken women activists who had entered Sabarimala on the sly. Observers say that CPI(M)’s departure from its earlier stance is based on its realisation that Hindu voters are moving towards the BJP.
To retain its Hindu vote base, CPI(M) has lashed out at the Muslim League for pursuing “communal agenda” and the Congress for aligning with Islamic radical outfits. This, despite the fact that CPI(M) had forged electoral alliance with Islamist outfits like SDPI.
The CPI(M) has mastered the art of playing all religious cards at the same time. It first came to power in Kerala in 1952 playing the Hindu card. While it plays ‘Hindu card’ where it suited, it tries to draw maximum mileage out of ‘Muslim card’. It had fielded several tainted Muslim businessmen in place of committed Communist party men. n
Leave a Comment