THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 29-day strike at Law Academy has brought to the fore the need for Left parties to do some serious introspection about their basic approach towards such issues. Though SFI thought its unilateral agreement with management was a masterstroke capable of forcing other student organisations to call off their stir, the adventurous miscalculation became counterproductive. The young comrades were left with limited options after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan made their position clear on the agitation.
SFI leaders were even summoned to the CPM district headquarters and reportedly directed to go soft. Left fellow travellers feel that SFI which has led many valiant student agitations in the state should not have deserted the agitation midway, especially when other student organisations, especially girls stood firm on their demands. While the CM’s and CPM’s argument that the BJP was trying to use the agitation to get political mileage cannot be discarded fully, rushing through an agreement citing this reason and that too unilaterally was clearly wrong politics. For the CPI whose minister ordered a inquiry into Achuthanandan's allegation, the real test begins now. The big question is will they act on the revenue secretary’s recommendations.
The blame game between the two major Left parties in full public view also dented LDF’s image, something which many in the Left camp believe could have been avoided. The differences within the CPM also came to the fore with veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan severely criticising government inaction. He even took the allegations against Law Academy management to a different level seeking recovery of government land.
