The Hindu : Kerala News : Patriarchal visit a real test for Chandy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Patriarchal visit a real test for Chandy

By George Jacob

KOTTAYAM, SEPT. 19. The scheduled visit of the Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Zakka I Ivas, head of the Universal Syrian Church, to the State may pose the first major test to his statesmanship and political acumen for the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy. The fact that Mr. Chandy is one of the tallest lay leaders from the Orthodox faction, opposed to the visiting dignitary in the ongoing Orthodox-Jacobite feud in the Malankara Church and that he, unlike his predecessor A.K. Antony, is a practicing Christian, has only made the situation more complex.

The Orthodox faction has already upped the ante and has dubbed the visit `illegal'. They have also warned that `those who support the visit will have to face the consequences in the coming days'. On the other hand, the Chief Minister had made it clear that he had taken precautionary measures to ensure a smooth conclusion of the Patriarchal visit and that he had got assurances that the Patriarch would not visit any of the disputed sites.

Shrill voices

While the shrill voices emanating from the Orthodox faction against the visit of the Patriarch was expected, the personal targeting of Mr. Chandy by his own spiritual leaders, may come as a surprise. The essence of their criticism against Mr. Chandy was that he was not as supportive of their cause as a member of the flock was expected to be. Though, this has been a long standing grievance of the extreme fringes of the Orthodox faction against Mr. Chandy, the fact that they have picked this moment to air their criticism is ominous. For Mr. Chandy, the real test is not only in ensuring a peaceful and smooth conclusion of the Patriarchal visit, but also in managing the dynamics triggered by the visit — both in the realm of party politics and in the domain of church politics.

The immediate fall out of eliciting a goodwill certificate from the Jacobite faction for Mr. Chandy may be that it would stand him in good stead while dealing with the threat from the Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader, T.M. Jacob, who had been flaunting his Jacobite identity during every political crisis, including the recent one. However, that one of the staunchest allies of the Orthodox faction in their feud with the Jacobites is none other than R. Balakrishna Pillai, another Kerala Congress faction leader, may not augur well for Mr. Chandy. The possib le bitterness generated on account of the Patriarchal visit on sections of the Orthodox faction may come as a handy tool for Mr. Pillai in the days to come.

Political outcome

On the other hand, Mr. Chandy's pivotal role and the positions being taken by the respective church hierarchy to his new status may also generate new equations within these two factions which have a critical role in deciding the political outcomes, especially at the grassroots level in central Travancore districts.

Mr. Chandy's real test appears to be in successfully managing the under-currents and cross-currents which will be unleashed by the Patriarchal visit to the advantage of his coalition in the coming days.

Hindutva forces

The studied silence on the part of the Hindutva forces who had in the past, come out openly against such visits, appears to be a clear pointer to the political importance attached to the tour, especially against the backdrop of the electoral outcome during the last Parliament elections at Muvattupuzha constituency.

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