M.M. Moni MLA, senior CPM leader and former minister, has publicly stated that S. Rajendran, who left CPM recently and joined BJP, should be ‘handled properly’, a clear threatening call and political intolerance of Communist leaders towards a fellow politician.
Moni made this threatening speech, on January 25, while addressing a CPM public meeting held in Munnar.
On January 19, Rajendran joined BJP. He had won the Devikulam constituency for three consecutive times – 2011, 2016 and 2021. But, he felt that he did not get justice from his party. He has been keeping away from his party since the last Assembly elections in 2021.
Addressing a public meeting, Moni alleged that Rajendran betrayed the party which gave him ‘all’, hence he should be ‘handled’.
In CPM or Marxist lexicon, the word ‘handle’ has got vast meanings. During the days of CPM killing spree against RSS/BJP workers in Kannur district, CPM leaders used to make such statements in their public speeches prior to their ‘operations’.
In Kannur, they used mud-slinging and character assassination prior to ‘handling’, meaning deadly attack and murder.
Moni alleged that Rajendran was stabbing from the back after enjoying all facilities and positions provided by the party. It is to be remembered that the party had ‘discovered’ that its vote share came down in the last Assembly elections allegedly due to the manipulations of Rajendran.
Moni had reportedly said that whoever challenges the party should be beaten to death, even if it is him (Moni).
Rajendran and BJP leaders condemned Moni and his irresponsible statement. They said that they are organising a mammoth meeting in Idukki shortly, in which state president Rajeeev Chandrasekhar would distribute BJP membership to more than 1,000 cadres of CPM, CPI and other parties. A senior district leader of CPI is one among them.
Rajendran had reportedly stated before the party’s enquiry commission that district secretariat member K.V. Sasi moves against him because he (Rajendran) had spoken about the malpractices in a cooperative bank presided over by Sasi.
Rajendran has been refusing to renew his party membership. Even though some senior leaders tried to tame him, he was not ready to submit. The party believes that his BJP entry has weakened the party position in Idukki district.
Moni has been infamous for his blunt statements with respect to various issues. In 2012, he invited the wrath of civilised society, including a section of CPM men, when he told a meeting about the killing of three political opponents in 1980. He explained how the killings were executed. It was an insult added to the party’s injury as it was widely criticised by right-thinking people in the wake of the killing of (CPM) rebel leader T.P. Chandrasekharan near Kozhikode; there, the arrested ones were CPM men.
In 2017, he was criticised for making anti-woman and sexually loaded statements when about 10,000 women plantation labourers went on strike in Idukki. At that time, the Kerala State Women’s Commission registered a suo motu case against M.M. Moni.
The Kerala High Court criticised him, and the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court also heard the complaint.
Recently, when the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a setback in the Local Self-Government Bodies Elections, he abused the voters for their ingratitude and for not voting for the Front despite enjoying the benefits provided by the government. “Pensions and good food” were the benefits he mentioned.
