THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Full page advertisements of new Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's swearing-in ceremony in different newspapers across the state has left the CPI(M) and the Left uneasy. The second largest party in Kerala's Left Democratic Front, the CPI had warned against a “personality cult”, vocally displeased with the promotions.
“The government was sworn in today. How can the government be held accountable before that... We will have to see what it is about, how it happened,” said CPI (M) general secretary Sitaraman Yechury. CPI general secretary S Sudhakar said, “Instead of saying Vijayan government, it would have been appropriate if the advertisement had said LDF government. Generally, this type of personality cult is not there in the Communist and Left parties. Personality cult should not be encouraged.” The adverts featured Vijayan's photo in a red background with a tag line that read “Committed to turn Kerala into a truly God's own country.”
Sources said the CPI(M) and the CPI had fought the elections unitedly and it was V S Achuthanandan who was truly seen as the face of the Left campaign.
