Fault in the stars: Communist leader's photo with astrologer causes stir in Kerala's ruling CPM
The issue has been smouldering within the CPI(M) after the matter of party leaders clandestinely visiting astrologers came up in its state committee meeting held on Thursday.
The issue intensified after a photograph of Govindan with prominent Kannur-based astrologer Madhava Poduval circulated on social media.
On Saturday, Govindan denied reports that some leaders in the party had criticised him for meeting the astrologer. 'There was no such criticism,' he said.
The astrologer, Poduval, however, told the media that he has a long-standing relationship with Govindan and that the CPI(M) leader had visited him earlier this year 'out of love' and not to avail his services as an astrologer.
'Govindan met me with his family… I have known him for several years, and he came to meet me when I was recovering after a surgery. He did not meet me as an astrologer; he came out of love, and someone took a photo,' Poduval said in Kannur district's Payyannur.
The astrologer also said that he had breakfast with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the Nava Kerala Yatra — a state-wide tour undertaken by the Kerala Cabinet last year.
He also said that he has met several prominent figures, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Even as Govindan tried to play down the incident, senior party leader A K Balan came out with a defence of CPI(M) leaders meeting astrologers.
'There is nothing wrong with Communists meeting astrologers. Meeting with astrologers or maintaining a relationship with them does not mean that we agree with their ideology. It is quite normal that we meet the astrologers. Govindan has not met the astrologer to find an auspicious time for something. We are all staunch advocates of dialectical materialism,' he said.
In 2021, Govindan, then a CPI(M) central committee member, sparked a major debate within the Left after he said that dialectical materialism, a philosophical approach associated with Karl Marx, was not practical in the Indian context. He subsequently said that the Left must bring both atheists and believers under its umbrella.
The CPI(M), which has always claimed to stand for scientific temperament, has previously taken strong exception to party leaders taking to astrology. In 2008, A P Abdullakuty, then a CPI(M) MP, had courted controversy after turning to a form of astrology known as Nadi astrology. This was one of the incidents that led to Abdullakuty's estrangement from the party and later his ouster. He is now a BJP national vice-president.
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