The 12th Session of the Kerala Assembly offered the LDF government its best chance to counter charges of a secret pact with the Sangh Parivar. But instead of taking the charges head-on, it chose to dwell on past exploits.
By the middle of September it was clear that the CM's refusal to act against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar had become politically unsustainable for the CPM.
In the present context, the CPM considers the former IA&AS officer the sharpest weapon it could brandish in its fight to hold on to its position as the most secular party in Kerala.
The Assembly session was the best chance the CPM had to dry-clean its image, sullied as it was by allegations of corruption and, worst of all, by the charge that it was secretly supping with the RSS.
The UDF, and especially the Congress party, seemed so inflamed by the Chief Minister's 'substandard' remark against Opposition Leader V D Satheesan that it lost sight of its primary mission.
Though the nine-day session has been convened mostly for legislative business, politics is expected to dominate.
The VC for the HR department, since the job calls for the right mix of ruthlessness and compassion, is named Rangan ('Aavesham').
CPM state secretary M V Govindan said that Anvar had become the 'hatchet' in the hands of right-wing forces.
ADGP report on Thrissur pooram disruption and his secret talks with top RSS leaders could do for the CPI what the letters of apology supposedly written by SA Dange from jail to the British.
All state assemblies elected after the 'Appointed Date' will last only until the full term of the Lok Sabha, which heralded the 'One Nation, One Election' process.
Kerala government has estimated a cost of Rs 1,202 crore, but it is only entitled to just 18% of what has been sought, which is Rs 219.23 crore.
Sitaram Yechury became the party general secretary in 2015, a time when age had weakened Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan was steadily gaining full control of the CPM in Kerala.