There are some legendary individuals, but very few become legends in their lifetime. The latest to join the ranks of living legends is Kerala chief minister, Pinayari Vijayan if the title of a documentary film made on him “Pinayari the Legend” is anything to go by.
Kerala chief minister, Pinayari Vijayan who leads the LDF ministry has been in politics for decades. And the ideology which he and CPI(M) , the party he belongs to believe in does not encourage personality cult.
Yet this documentary made on him is a burning example of an ideological deviation which a senior leader of the party down to a grassroot activist ought to keep at arm’s length. Exceptions prove the rule as the saying goes.
But Vijayan should have been the last person to make this exception even if involuntarily. Having been a secretary of Kerala unit of CPI(M) for 18 years and a chief minister of this state for nine years he should have been more aware of keeping the personality cult at an arm’s length.
The matter becomes all the more murkier as the documentary has not been the handiwork of an individual admirer. It has been shot by the party faithful.
The film has been produced by CPI(M)-backed Kerala State Employees Association ( KSEA). It was released in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on May 28.
The film release date is significant. It marks fourth anniversary of Vijayan-led LDF government in its second consecutive term.
The film was not released by any CPI(M) apparitichik. Tamil actor and politician Kamal Hasan released the film.
And it was no hush-hush affair. Vijayan together with several senior Left leaders did the honours to it sharing the podium with Hasan.
Seeking to steer away the film from his personal glorification, Vijayan said that love shown to him is actually love and support for the LDF government. This support has been depicted considering him as the symbol, the Kerala chief minister added ostensibly to water down an issue which can be a source of embarrassment to him before 2026 state Assembly elections.
But Vijayan is no stranger to being singled out for personal adulation. The KSEA had earlier launched a ballad which sang Vijayan’s praise.
Penned by a KSEA member, it was sung during the outfit’s golden jubilee building inauguration. The ballad was sung by 100 women at this function in keeping with the Left tradition of gana sangeet or a song sung by the masses.
It was sung in the presence of Vijayan. It referred to him as the “general of an army” and “phoenix”
Such salutations may be out of sync with CPI(M)’s political culture. But hero worship is commonplace for Vijayan.
In 2022, the CPI(M) organised thiruvathira, a traditional dance performed by the women of the state. Hundreds of dancers performed to the tune of a song praising Vijayan.
It is not only the party rank and file which sings paens in Vijayan’s praise. Last year, state party secretary M V Govindan described Vijayan as the “burning sun”.
Incidentally, Vijayan himself has taken a dim view of other CPI(M) leaders in the state being eulogised. Way back in 2009, Vijayan the party secretary had not taken kindly to the popularity of then chief minister V S Achuthanandan.
“Outside a party, a leader is nothing” Vijayan had remarked when crowd puller Achuthanandan had created an impression that he was beyond the party. This was in keeping with CPI (M)’s tradition of opposing hero worship.
With election scheduled next year, Vijayan being singled out for praise among his LDF Cabinet colleagues can be lively campaign fodder for Congress, the principal Opposition party in Kerala. The Congress game plan is likely to accuse Vijayan of encouraging autocracy and the state CPI(M) of having once preached decentralisation but now turning it’s back to it.
