Threatening to stop Central welfare schemes and demanding commissions on benefits are among the ground-level realities that prevent innocents from speaking out against the Communist government in Kerala. When CPM leaders find that individuals do not follow their orders, they allegedly exercise power by denying centrally funded welfare benefits, sending a strong message to others: follow party diktats or lose your name from the list of beneficiaries.
This allegation became a lived reality for sixty-year-old tribal woman Lakshmi in January, when she failed to turn up for a CPM-called dharna against Prime Minister Modi. As a result, she was allegedly punished by being removed from work under the ‘VB-G RAM G’ (MGNREGA) scheme.
What is the story?
Lakshmi was denied work on January 15 in Peravoor, Kannur district, a region known as one of the most powerful CPM party units under the CPM state committee. The reason, according to the complaint, was straightforward: she refused to participate in the CPM’s protest against the Modi government. The incident once again raises questions about the Left’s proclaimed philosophy of “equality”.
The Left parties routinely accuse the Modi regime of the “misuse of institutions”, raising such allegations loudly in public discourse. However, on the ground, they are accused of exploiting welfare schemes as party-controlled tools. BJP state general secretary Anoop Antony alleged that, for the Communists, power means “obedience or punishment”.
Following the incident, the BJP filed a complaint before the Block Programme Officer concerned. The officer has sought a detailed report on the matter. The complaint was lodged soon after the issue came to light. The Block Officer has also sought explanations from the Peravoor Panchayat and from the MGNREGA Mates, who serve as women supervisors at individual worksites.
The protest in question was organised under the auspices of the NRG Workers Union, controlled by CITU, the labour wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The dharna was held in front of the Kannur Head Office, and it was this programme that Lakshmi skipped, allegedly inviting the wrath of local party bosses.
According to the complaint, the party’s directive to workers was clear: attend the dharna before reporting for work. Lakshmi reportedly did not attend work for a couple of days due to ill health. When she returned on January 16, she was informed that only those who had participated in the dharna would be allowed to resume work.
The dharna targeted the central government, accusing it of sabotaging the MGNREGA and renaming it as VB-G RAM G. The protest was inaugurated by E. P. Jayarajan, senior CPM leader, former minister, and former LDF convener. Several senior CPM leaders, including the Kannur district secretary, also participated. Employees engaged under the MGNREGA scheme from across the district were asked to attend the agitation.
Past CPM audio clips raise similar concerns
Lakshmi’s case is the latest in a series of such allegations. In the past, several voice recordings of CPM functionaries have been telecast by Malayalam television channels, purportedly instructing MGNREGA workers to participate in party protests or face denial of work. Critics argue that this reflects the CPM’s so-called pro-working-class policy in practice.
