Mammootty may not be an MGR or NTR, the matinee idols who went on to become the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh respectively.
The party sees red over Mammootty’s presence at a DYFI meet; accuses him of encroaching on state government land
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mammootty may not be an MGR or NTR, the matinee idols who went on to become the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh respectively. But the national award-winning superstar is under fire for his affinity with the ruling CPI (M) in Kerala.
Days after Mammootty inaugurated a delegates meeting at the DYFI national convention in Chennai, the Youth Congress has launched a tirade against the actor.
Mammootty, who denies any political ambition like his counterparts in the neighbouring states, has a long track record of associating with the CPI (M), which leads the government in Kerala. He is the chairman of Malayalam Satellite Communications Ltd - which has launched three television channels within six years - virtually controlled by the CPI (M). Grapevine was that the party would field the actor to the Rajya Sabha.
Though Mammootty shies away from parliamentary ambitions, CPI (M) honchos in Kerala have succeeded in making him a mascot of sorts. He was instrumental in putting together a deal with the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority to set up the Rs 1500-crore IT city in Kochi.
The party may reward him once again with the post of director of the proposed Smart City, which brought laurels to chief minister VS Achuthanandan.
The immediate provocation for the Youth Congress’s allegations is Mammootty’s appearance at its rival organisation’s event in Chennai.
Mammootty, who sermonised the young comrades to reap the benefits of globalisation instead of indulging in shadow fighting, credited the organisation with keeping communalism at bay in its strongholds, mainly Kerala and West Bengal. He said it was “an occasion to share his thoughts with the youth.”
But Youth Congress was rather caustic on the actor. They put his name on the list of political foes accused of encroaching government land in Munnar. “Mammootty should make it clear whether he or his relatives have encroached government land in Munnar,” Youth Congress state president T Siddhique told reporters. He added that documents could be produced after the actor’s reaction.
Youth Congress’s attempts to involve Mammootty in the land grab issue is clearly a political move at a time when both fronts are making lists of foes allegedly in soup in Munnar. While CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan accuses senior leaders of Congress and its allies of land grab in Munnar, Congress names CPI (M) leaders and fellow travellers who have a stake in the hill station.
Meanwhile, Congress organ Veekshanam ran an article on the “difference of opinion” in the DYFI over Mammootty’s presence on its dais. It accuses the actor of flirting between red and saffron, referring to his meeting with the then BJP president Venkaiah Naidu in Thiruvananthapuram in 2002.
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