K Satchidanandan (File photo)
THRISSUR: CPM on Tuesday launched efforts to pacify pro-Left writer and Sahitya Akademi president K Satchidanandan , who caused embarrassment to LDF govt ahead of assembly polls by warning against dangers of returning the same political formation to power repeatedly.Party district secretary K V Abdul Khader and Sahitya Akademi vice-president Asokan Charuvil met Satchidanandan at his residence, in an apparent conciliation bid.After the meeting, Khader and Charuvil sought to underplay the row. According to them, Satchidanandan clarified that he was making a general observation and wasn’t referring specifically to the situation in Kerala. They said Satchidanandan also alleged that media had distorted some of his remarks.However, Satchidanandan said he stood by his statement on the dangers of returning a party to power repeatedly. He said he had personally witnessed the disastrous consequences of such an experience in West Bengal.“I have seen the degeneration of Bengal communist party. As the party came to power repeatedly, more and more corrupt and power-hungry people flocked into the party. Dictatorial tendencies can take a firm grip over a party which remains in power for a long period. This is true, not just for CPM, but for any party,’’ he said.“I wasn’t suggesting a change of ruling party every five years. I’m not referring to a particular time limit at all, but I’m raising my concerns of dangers to democracy if any political formation remains in power for a long period,’’ he said, referring to former finance minister T M Thomas Isaac’s criticisms against him.He chastised suggestions that he shouldn’t criticise govt, which was paying him as president of Sahitya Akademi. “That is only a reminiscence of reactionary thinking that the relationship between Akademi president and govt is akin to feudal landlord and a tenant,’’ he said.Satchidanandan dismissed cyber attacks against him by Left sympathisers, saying, “It is evident that virtual fools’ paradise of cyber crowds didn’t even try to understand the implications of what I was trying to convey and which was completely lost in the verbal bullfight on this Lilliput.”General education minister V Sivankutty alleged that Satchidanandan had criticised without doing proper homework and analysis of political ground realities.Unlike CPM leaders, CPI functionaries took a softer approach to Satchidanandan’s criticisms of ruling LDF. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and minister K Rajan said LDF considered Satchidanandan a genuine ally and his criticisms would be heeded with utmost respect. There won’t be any attempt to stifle dissenting voices from friends of the Left like Satchidanandan, they said.Meanwhile, opposition leader V D Satheesan continued to support criticisms by Satchidanandan and activistwriter Sarah Joseph against the CPM-led govt and said the cultural leaders were actually giving voice to the opinions of a vast majority of people.
