Thursday saw veteran CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan arrive at Udumbanchola constituency in Idukki to campaign for his fellow-firebrand leader M.M. Mani. The visit held special significance as both leaders have not been on good terms since the past few years.
Mani had once upon a time been a close aide of VS, but in 2007 when the latter’s Munnar operation against land grabs began to target party offices too, things had changed between them.
To Mani’s public threat to chop off VS’ hands if he attempted to carry out the operation in Munnar, VS had then retorted: “Mani should first check whether he himself will be able to retain his own hands and legs while leaving Munnar.”
This very public spat went on to trigger a war of words between the duo that mostly involved quite colourful verbal abuses. Many a time, Mani termed VS a rogue while at other times VS was apparently the in-house traitor who would poison even the drinking water.
This did not however stop VS from visiting Mani at the Peerumedu sub-jail, spending almost twenty whole minutes in his company. Mani incidentally was in jail for his fiery speech that boasted of how his party had literally wiped out his opponents in the 80s and how the party had even prepared a list of those who ought to be murdered.
But that just proved to be red herring and swords remained drawn till Thursday saw both share a venue as part of the LDF’s election campaign.
VS went on to praise Mani as a great leader who had fought for the downtrodden in Idukki and even asked the audience to vote for Mani.
A section of the media went on to label this as a sign of a patch-up between the two. But somehow VS himself did not seem happy at the turn of events and was clearly uneasy all throughout the function.