CPM Kerala Drops Achuthanandan Memorial Edition After 'Kallan Vijayan' Article Triggers Storm
CPM Kerala Drops Achuthanandan Memorial Edition After 'Kallan Vijayan' Article Triggers Storm Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 12:12 IST Deshabhimani removed a planned
CPM Kerala Drops Achuthanandan Memorial Edition After 'Kallan Vijayan' Article Triggers Storm Published By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 12:12 IST Deshabhimani removed a planned article on theatre activist 'Kallan Vijayan' from its VS Achuthanandan memorial supplement following an editorial controversy. Deshabhimani released a revised memorial supplement for V.S. Achuthanandan after withdrawing the planned 'Kallan Vijayan' feature following an editorial controversy (Photo: PTI) The CPI(M)’s official newspaper Deshabhimani withdrew a planned feature on theatre activist Kallan Vijayan from a special memorial edition dedicated to former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan after an editorial controversy over its placement. The weekend supplement, which was delayed by a day after the newspaper officially cited technical reasons, was eventually released on Monday with the article removed in its entirety. The commemorative edition, titled “Muzhangunnippozhum Aa Kadalarambam" (The Roar of That Sea Still Echoes), was brought out to mark the first death anniversary of Achuthanandan. According to IANS, it carries reminiscences by several writers, including his former Press Secretary KV Sudhakaran, with the memorial features occupying both the front and back pages of the supplement. The controversy centred on a feature titled “Kallan Vijayan, Dhanya Nataka Gramam, Muthippaara P.O.", profiling noted theatre activist Vijayan of Pullampara, who is popularly known as “Kallan Vijayan", a nickname that translates to “Thief Vijayan" in English. Sources told IANS that members of the editorial team objected to the layout, arguing that carrying VS Achuthanandan’s memorial on the front page while featuring the bold headline ‘Kallan Vijayan’ on the back page could invite political ridicule and deliberate misinterpretation.
There were concerns that the juxtaposition could be portrayed as an insult to the late communist stalwart. The disagreement reportedly escalated into an editorial dispute, resulting in the last-minute suspension of printing and postponement of the weekend supplement, which had originally been scheduled for publication on Sunday. THEATRE ACTIVIST CONTRADICTS OFFICIAL VERSION Although Deshabhimani maintained that the delay was caused by technical issues, Resident Editor M Swaraj denied that any article on Kallan Vijayan had been prepared and dismissed reports of an editorial dispute as baseless. However, the newspaper’s position was challenged by Kallan Vijayan himself. As reported by IANS, the theatre activist said representatives of Deshabhimani had contacted him, gathered details about his life and work, and requested a group photograph, which he provided. He added that he had been informed the article would appear in the weekend supplement but received no explanation after it was ultimately dropped. His account directly contradicted the newspaper’s official stand and intensified questions over how the episode was handled. Following criticism from different sections of society over the handling of the memorial edition, Deshabhimani decided to rework the supplement, IANS reported. The edition released on Monday contains only the memorial package on VS Achuthanandan, while the article on Kallan Vijayan has been omitted completely. According to IANS, the CPI(M) is now expected to conduct an internal inquiry into the controversy.
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