Vinodini Balakrishnan says top CPM leader never returned her calls
Kannur: Vinodini Balakrishnan, wife of late CPM veteran Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has levelled indirect criticism at CPM state secretary MV Govindan, alleging that she faced ‘cruel neglect’ from sections of the party leadership after her husband's death.
In an interview with Pachakkuthira magazine, Vinodini said that senior leaders had ignored the family following Kodiyeri’s death. She claimed that a Polit Bureau member repeatedly failed to answer or return her calls despite several attempts to contact him.
The family’s comments come nearly four years after Kodiyeri’s death. Responding to a question about the party leadership’s attitude towards the family after his passing, Vinodini said that once the funeral and related ceremonies were over, everyone dispersed and no senior leader remained in touch.
“Not even to ask, ‘Are you okay? We are with you,’” she said, clarifying that she was not referring to ordinary party workers but to some prominent leaders. She added that she did not expect leaders to visit her home or personally share in the family's grief, but felt it was disappointing that no one found the time even to make a phone call.
Vinodini said she had repeatedly tried to contact a senior party leader regarding an important matter but received neither a response nor a return call. She wondered whether the leader assumed she was calling for a personal favour.
Referring to her experience over the four years since Kodiyeri’s death, she said it reflected the party leadership’s approach towards the family. She also questioned whether such experiences were unique to her or indicative of a broader reality in which women are often left isolated after losing their spouses.
When asked whether readers might assume that the unnamed leader was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Vinodini rejected the suggestion.
She said that Pinarayi Vijayan always answers calls whenever possible or returns the call if he is unable to respond immediately. The leader she referred to, she clarified, was a Polit Bureau member holding a prominent position in Kerala.
“Since Kodiyeri’s death and after all the ceremonies were over, he has never contacted me, not even once over the phone. Even when I occasionally call him, he does not answer,” Vinodini said.