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Hindustan Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rebel leader: V S Achuthanandan's impact on CPI(M)
Thiruvananthapuram, Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan, who died at a hospital here on Monday, was a rebel and corrective force within his own party and never bothered about disciplinary actions. Rebel leader: V S Achuthanandan's impact on CPI(M) The contradictory stand that he adopted put the party in a tough position many times, and the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T P Chandrasekharan was one of such incidents. Chandrasekharan, a former CPI leader who had quit the party following differences with the leadership, was hacked to death by a gang while he was returning home on his bike at Onchiyam in Kozhikode on May 4, 2012. The murder was allegedly masterminded by the local leaders of the CPI. Though the party leadership adopted a stand that Chandrasekharan was a "traitor," Achuthanandan never denounced his former party colleague. When the party argued that the then UDF government's move to order a CBI probe into the gruesome murder was a politically motivated one, VS supported the central agency probe and even wrote to the authorities demanding the same. He even defied the party's directive not to visit Chandrasekhar's house and called on his widow K K Rema on the politically significant day of Neyyattinkara bypoll in the same year. The slain leader's house had witnessed highly emotional scenes on the day when VS came there. Overcome with emotion, Rema wept bitterly, clutching Achuthanandan's folded hands for several seconds. The poignant moment was captured in a photograph that graced the front pages of all major newspapers the following day. Though Achuthanandan refused to speak to the media at the time, his surprise visit and the subsequent publication of the photo served as a political statement and a clear response to his party on the matter. An emotional Rema, now the UDF-backed Vadakara MLA, shared the same photo on her Facebook page on Monday as a tribute to the leader, accompanied by a heartfelt note. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
21-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Rebel leader: V S Achuthanandans impact on CPI(M)
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21 (PTI) Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan, who died at a hospital here on Monday, was a rebel and corrective force within his own party and never bothered about disciplinary actions. The contradictory stand that he adopted put the party in a tough position many times, and the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader T P Chandrasekharan was one of such incidents. Chandrasekharan, a former CPI(M) leader who had quit the party following differences with the leadership, was hacked to death by a gang while he was returning home on his bike at Onchiyam in Kozhikode on May 4, 2012. The murder was allegedly masterminded by the local leaders of the CPI(M). Though the party leadership adopted a stand that Chandrasekharan was a 'traitor," Achuthanandan never denounced his former party colleague. When the party argued that the then UDF government's move to order a CBI probe into the gruesome murder was a politically motivated one, VS supported the central agency probe and even wrote to the authorities demanding the same. He even defied the party's directive not to visit Chandrasekhar's house and called on his widow K K Rema on the politically significant day of Neyyattinkara bypoll in the same year. The slain leader's house had witnessed highly emotional scenes on the day when VS came there. Overcome with emotion, Rema wept bitterly, clutching Achuthanandan's folded hands for several seconds. The poignant moment was captured in a photograph that graced the front pages of all major newspapers the following day. Though Achuthanandan refused to speak to the media at the time, his surprise visit–and the subsequent publication of the photo–served as a political statement and a clear response to his party on the matter. An emotional Rema, now the UDF-backed Vadakara MLA, shared the same photo on her Facebook page on Monday as a tribute to the leader, accompanied by a heartfelt note. PTI LGK KH (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 21:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Another co-op bank faces vigilance inquiry over financial irregularities in Kochi
KOCHI: Another cooperative bank in Ernakulam district has come under the scanner of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for illegal disbursal of loans. The agency has registered a case into alleged loan manipulation at the Chendamangalam Service Cooperative Bank. The case pertains to a loan sanctioned against agricultural land to individuals outside the bank's territorial jurisdiction. The accused include former president of the bank K Sivasankaran, former vice-president K G Rafale, 11 former board members, the secretary, assistant secretary, and 10 others. The bank was governed by a UDF-backed board during the period under scrutiny. 'Following a complaint, we carried out a preliminary probe into several loans sanctioned during the previous governing board's tenure. It was found that some loans were granted to people residing outside the jurisdiction of the bank in Chendamangalam and nearby areas. Based on our findings, we decided to proceed with a detailed investigation. An FIR has now been registered against 25 individuals,' said a VACB officer.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur by-elections: A significant ballot box test for LDF and UDF on June 19
The ruling front and opposition will face their arguably most significant ballot box test ahead of the 2025 local body polls and the Assembly elections in 2026, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday announcing June 19 as the date for the Nilambur Assembly by-poll. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition reckon the by-poll will likely be a bellwether of Kerala's voting behaviour in the crucial run-up to the consequential elections. Also read | Kerala bypoll: Nilambur bypoll results on June 23; UDF, LDF set to declare candidates The resignation of LDF independent legislator P.V. Anvar triggered the by-election at the fag end of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. The outcome of the by-poll holds significant political consequences for both fronts. Mr Anvar, who joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) after his acrimonious break-up with the LDF, has declared unconditional support for the UDF. However, Mr Anvar's demand for pre-by-poll accommodation in the UDF has been a sore point between him and the opposition alliance. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan hinted in Ernakulam that billetting Mr Anvar in the UDF was in the offing. 'The UDF would work out the modalities of the arrangement: he said. Mr Satheesan said the UDF would announce its candidate for Nilambur within 24 hours. He said the UDF would put the LDF's 'misrule' on public trial in Nilambur. He predicted a no-holds-barred political fight and hinted that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Wayanad MP, would campaign for the UDF. Mr Anvar told reporters in Kochi that he would support any 'devil' the UDF throws into the fray in Nilambur. Earlier, Mr Anvar had stirred controversy by suggesting that V.S. Joy, the District Congress Committee (DCC) president, who hails from the Christian settler farmer community, a significant electoral bloc in the forested district, stood a better chance of winning in Nilambur than another reportedly prospective candidate, Aryadan Shaukath. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary M. V. Govindan stated in Kannur that the LDF was not locked in a 'candidate declaration' race with the UDF. He did not rule out the possibility of fielding independent candidates. Mr Govindan shrugged off whether LDF would exploit the 'divisions in the UDF' in Malappuram and field a Congress dissident. 'LDF will take a tactical decision within a week. Our candidate will be a person with public stature and acceptance', he added. Mr Govindan described the Nilambur elections as the LDF's springboard for gaining power for a third consecutive term in the Assembly elections 2026. 'With barely a few months left for the government's term to expire, the LDF did not reckon the Nilambur by-poll as a verdict on the administration,' he said. Instead, Mr Govindan sought to frame the electoral battle as one between a UDF-backed rainbow coalition of majority and minority communal forces and the pro-welfare and development-oriented secular left.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Congress gets ‘autorickshaw' as official election symbol
The Election Commission of India has recognised Kerala Congress as a State party and allotted autorickshaw symbol to it. Party chairman and MLA P.J. Joseph confirmed that the recognition came in the wake of the party's performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Kerala Congress, a key ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), had been functioning without an official symbol after the Election Commission of India awarded the 'two leaves' symbol to the Jose K. Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) faction. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, Kerala Congress candidate K. Francis George contested from Kottayam using the autorickshaw symbol and won. Following this success, the party decided to adopt the symbol as its own. The dispute over the party's official symbol dates back to the Pala by-election in September 2019. Triggered by the death of veteran legislator and KC(M) chairman K.M. Mani, the by-election led to a major rift within the party, splitting it into factions led by Jose K. Mani and P.J. Joseph. During the poll, Mr. Joseph declined to allocate the party symbol to Jose Tom Pulikkunnel, the Mani group's candidate. As a result, Mr. Pulikkunnel had to contest as a UDF-backed Independent, with the 'pineapple' symbol. The symbol dispute was taken to the Election Commission of India and dragged on through a legal battle, before finally being resolved in favour of the current arrangement.
