Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s wife Vinodini alleges neglect by senior CPI(M) leadership in Kerala

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Vinodini Balakrishnan before a portrait of her late husband Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (file) | Photo Credit: CP Sajit

In what could prove to be a major embarrassment for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], Vinodini Balakrishnan, wife of the late former Kerala CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has openly criticised the party leadership, indirectly accusing incumbent State secretary M.V. Govindan of neglecting the family after the veteran leader’s death.

In an interview with the Malayalam magazine Pachakuthira, Ms. Balakrishnan said the family was “ruthlessly ignored” by sections of the party leadership following Mr. Balakrishnan’s demise.

“What the family faced was cruel neglect from a Politburo member who holds a high position in Kerala. After Kodiyeri’s death, he did not care about the family. The PB member would not even answer my calls,” she said.

According to her, the leader had not bothered to enquire about the family’s well-being during the past four years.

When asked if it was Pinarayi Vijayan, she clarified that it was not the former Chief Minister. “If I call Pinarayi, he will answer the phone. Otherwise, he will call me back,” she said.

This is the first public response against the party from the family since Mr. Balakrishnan’s death four years ago. When specifically asked about the attitude of the party leadership towards the family after his demise, Ms. Balakrishnan said: “Everyone left after the death and funeral. No one from the leadership contacted the family in the manner they should have. They did not even say, ‘Are you okay? We are all with you.’ I am not talking about ordinary party workers. I am referring to some senior leaders. It is not that they should come here and share our grief,” she clarified.

She added: “I am speaking from my experience over the four years since the death of Balakrishnan, who served as the Home Minister of Kerala, CPI(M) State secretary and Politburo member. I am referring to the attitude shown by the senio