Last of the old-school Marxists

END of 1990s. The E K Nayanar-led Left government was in power in Kerala.

- ANIL S @T'Puram

It was around the time Pinarayi Vijayan was set for his first tenure as CPM state secretary. A section of leaders were eyeing a new political combine — to get the Indian Union Muslim League into the LDF fold, with an eye on cementing a long-term rule for the Left front in the state. Informal talks were held at varying levels between senior leaders. Several possibilities were discussed. But one question kept bothering them — who would tell VS, the LDF convener and the most powerful leader who called the shots in the front?