Venugopal Challenges Kerala CM Over Alleged CPI(M)-RSS Nexus

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal contested Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's claim that the CPI(M) never collaborated with the RSS during the Emergency. Venugopal cited evidence from CPI(M)'s history, including an alliance with the RSS and Jan Sangh, causing internal party disputes and public controversy.

The debate over historical political alignments intensified on Thursday as AICC general secretary K C Venugopal contested claims by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the CPI(M)'s interactions with the RSS during India's Emergency period.

Venugopal pointed to historical evidence, naming former CPI(M) general secretary P Sundarayya's resignation as a protest against the party's alliance with Jan Sangh and RSS. This collaboration, which sought to fight the Emergency, allegedly led to Sundarayya's departure, citing the potential isolation it could cause within anti-imperialist and socialist circles.

The longstanding issue was reignited by CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan's remarks about past collaborations, which he later corrected. Despite Vijayan's denial of any CPI(M)-RSS cooperation, Venugopal highlighted instances of alleged political maneuvers, urging the chief minister to confront the party's historical actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)