Tears from Pinarayi for Kodiyeri tell the story of a friendship

The moment was reflective of the long relationship and camaraderie between the two Kerala veterans, including the past six years of Vijayan as CM and Balakrishnan as party state secretary

Kannur:As Kerala on Monday gave a tearful Red salute to the late CPI(M) Politburo member and former party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, among those who couldn’t keep emotions in check was the usually always-in-control Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

At the condolence meeting held soon after cremation at Payyambalam beach in Kannur, Vijayan could not complete his speech as he welled up. “Usually, we try to get over the death of a leader through collective effort. But this is not a loss which can be mended immediately… But we give an assurance to party workers that we will try,” he said, before returning abruptly to his seat.

The moment was reflective of the long relationship and camaraderie between the two Kerala veterans, including the past six years of Vijayan as CM and Balakrishnan as party state secretary. This is unlike what Kerala saw in 2006-11, when there was constant tension between the CPM government led by V S Achuthanandan and the party organisation, then led by Vijayan as secretary.

The Gulf Indians