In the past month, those following Kerala's media could be forgiven for believing that the only issue of importance in the world is the tragic suicide of Naveen Babu, an Additional District Magistrate. The narrative suggests that the most infamous criminal in Kerala's history is PP Divya, the CPI(M) leader and Kannur District Panchayat President, whom the media has collectively deemed responsible for driving Babu to death. Consequently, there is a palpable hunger for Divya’s blood.

Babu’s suicide is undeniably tragic, and his family deserves the utmost sympathy and support. Equally undeniable are Divya’s improper insinuations against Babu, which she made at his send-off meeting - which she attended uninvited - a breach of basic decency. While it is essential for political leaders to call out corruption, reports indicate that official inquiries have established Babu as an honest officer, rendering Divya’s allegations baseless. This fact heightens the unacceptability of her actions, which appear grossly uninformed and possibly intended to mislead. While her resignation from the District Panchayat was appropriate, her two-week evasion of the police was inexcusable for someone in her position. This has also damaged the already beleaguered LDF government's image even grievously.

Divya’s hubris reflects a broader issue: the pervasive arrogance and vanity that have permeated the CPI(M) leadership, particularly those from Kannur, over the past few years. This behaviour escalated following the LDF’s unprecedented re-election in 2021. The party itself has acknowledged that such conduct contributed to the anti-incumbency wave that led to its electoral losses in May. This contrasts starkly with its past leaders who garnered public affection through their simplicity, integrity and humanity which made “sakhav” (comrade), the term Communists referred to each other as Kerala’s most beloved honorific. Who can forget the love and egalitarian spirit with which the poor and illiterate Karamban addresses his leader Saghav Gopalan as “thagave” (he can’t say saghav correctly) in Thoppil Bhasi’s immortal “Ningal Enne Communist........

© Mathrubhumi English