Astrologer visit sparks ideological debate in Kerala's CPM leadership

Thiruvananthapuram: A controversy has broken out in the CPI(M) after Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan allegedly visited prominent astrologer Madhava Pothuval in Payyannur. The matter gained traction after a photograph of the meeting went viral on social media and also became a discussion point at the party’s recent state committee meeting.

During the meeting, senior leader P. Jayarajan is understood to have expressed concern that certain party leaders are making it a habit to visit astrologers , something he said was in direct violation of the CPI(M)’s core Marxist ideology. Both Jayarajan and Govindan, who hail from Kannur, were once close allies, but their relationship now appears strained.

On Saturday, Jayarajan feigned ignorance about the specifics and told the media, “I think all of you would have heard what Govindan had to say about it.” Some party members drew parallels between the current episode and past controversies, recalling how similar moves were once made to isolate the late former state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan over a temple ritual dispute.

With local body elections approaching, the CPI(M) leadership is expected to intervene in order to contain the fallout and prevent damage to the party’s public image.

For his part, Govindan dismissed the allegations as baseless, stating, “No criticism has been raised against me. These claims are unfounded. The media is to blame as they create controversies and then ask for my response.”

Veteran party leader A.K. Balan also sought to play down the matter, saying, “See, we meet lots of people, including astrologers and others. Just because some CPI-M leaders meet an astrologer, it should not be seen that we are followers of such professionals.”

With inputs from IANS