A spectre is haunting Kerala, the spectre of Communalism. Paraphrasing Marx’s Manifesto seems apt at this time when Marxism survives as discredited dogma and Marxists an endangered species. Left with an obsolete textbook for connecting the masses against the classes, our leftover Leftists are looking for new ways to reach Stalinist paradise. But it’s a Faustian bargain Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has struck with polarisation. The 75-year-old Comrade is a classic example of the Marxist muddle; his party CPI(M) abhors religion and regionalism but is now socialising with sectarianism. Since the success of a political party is measured in terms of votes and seats, the CPI(M) is almost politically bankrupt, abandoned in ideological ICU. Once the party ruled three states, held over 40 Lok Sabha seats and was present in more than ten states. It lost power in West Bengal and Tripura.