Thiruvananthapuram: CPM and CPI may strike a temporary truce in the controversy over the latter’s claim to the post of deputy leader in the assembly and CPM’s outright rejection of the demand. Sources said the truce formula is to avoid the controversy altogether by not filling the deputy leader’s post in the House, at least for the time being.Following talks between the central functionaries of CPM and CPI, both parties have identified the controversy as an added burden on the already weak LDF, which lost the assembly election by a huge margin. Sources said the proposal to close the chapter on the deputy leader’s post by glossing over the issue came from the CPM camp and CPI was not averse to it. However, neither CPM nor CPI has made a public comment on the formula that is under consideration.The deputy leader’s position in the assembly, which is otherwise considered an ornamental post, became the focus of a political storm in LDF following the front’s rout in assembly elections. CPI staked its claim to it and leader of the opposition Pinarayi Vijayan flatly rejected the demand in public.Though CPI tried to create the impression that it would not hesitate to take drastic steps if CPM dismissed its demand with derision, insiders said CPI raised the claim in keeping with its practice of seeking the moral high ground within LDF and refusing to bear joint responsibility for the electoral setback. However, the sharp and derisive reaction of Vijayan to CPI’s demand put the party in a political dilemma.While CPM was expected to name former finance minister K N Balagopal as the deputy leader in the House, CPI wanted to give former revenue minister and CPI parliamentary party leader K Rajan that post. Senior functionaries of CPM and CPI had also written articles in their respective party mouthpieces opposing each other’s views.Then, IUML also joined the issue by expressing solidarity with CPI by saying that the party was facing severe discrimination within the LDF camp.
