AT the Shankhumukham beach here this evening,when CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan ended his Nava Kerala Yatra,all ears may have been tuned to the appearance of his bitter rival Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and their tense,diplomatic speeches. But the buzz was over how the comrades deftly wove in Resul Pookuttys Sound Mixing Oscar in the evenings show. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat handed over a memento to Resuls sister P T Seenath. She and Resuls brother P T Saifudeen,both comrades,were given pride of place on the dais. When the Oscars were announced,Vijayan who was then touring Resuls home district Kollam had called him in Los Angeles to convey the partys greetings. In reply,Resul hailed the Nava Kerala Yatra that would strengthen secular,democratic forces. This evening,a padded version of Resuls telephone message to Vijayan was read out in public. The party informed us this morning about its plan to honour Resul, said brother Saifudeen,a CPM activist and director of the party-controlled local co-operative bank. Sister Seenath is a a state committee member of Kerala State Teachers Association,the CPM-affiliated teachers organization. Their father Pazhaya Theruvil Pookutty had been an active member of the undivided Communist Party of India and sheltered several comrades when the party was banned. Not all siblings are with the CPM,clarified P T Baiju,another brother. Our family does not have any hardcore alliance with any political party. Our eldest brother Shamsudeen and Resul have no affiliation with any party although they are Left sympathisers, said Baiju,whos a member of the state executive of Yuva Janata Dal,the youth wing of Janata Dal (S).
