New Delhi: The rivers have started receding and the Left Front government in Kerala is being roundly applauded for its exemplary handling of the deluge. But the CPI, a major constituent of the front, has been caught in the swirling muddy waters of politics.

Forest minister K. Raju, who is from the CPI, is facing flak for choosing to go to Germany instead of coordinating flood-relief work in Kottayam, the district he had been assigned.

But it is the decision of the CPI, self-proclaimed flag-bearer of morality in the state's politics, to accept an ornamental post like that of chief whip which will cost the state exchequer a minimum of Rs 3 crore a year that has surprised many.

As part of its austerity measures, the front, after taking charge, had decided to keep the number of ministers at 19 instead of the 23 of the previous government led by the UDF. It had also decided to scrap the post of chief whip at the insistence of the CPI.

A chief whip enjoys all the perks of a cabinet minister minus any responsibility.

Last week, all those promises made at the time of assuming power were thrown out of the window when Big Brother CPM decided to reinstate party heavyweight E.P. Jayarajan who had to quit barely 150 days into power following charges of nepotism.

Since the CPM was not ready to drop the minister who had replaced Jayarajan in 2016 - in this case minister for electricity M.M. Mani who had helped chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan gain the upper hand in the party - it was decided that the chief whip's post would be revived to keep the CPI in good humour.

Of course, for public consumption, this was "respecting a coalition front dharma". It is obvious that without the CPI's consent, the CPM would not have gone ahead with this plan. In fact, the CPI had initially demanded a ministerial berth.

That means the total number of ministers now stands at 21. Add to this two other posts of cabinet rank - one held by the veteran V.S. Achuthanandan as chief of the administrative reforms commission and the other by R. Balakrishna Pillai, who had to go to jail for corruption, as chairman of the welfare corporation for forward communities - the number becomes 23, the same as that of the UDF.

In two-and-a-half years, the state is back to where it was in matters of public money spent on the upkeep of politicians. The CPI's role in this drama is dubious while its silence is deafening.

An otherwise low-profile person, Raju had gone to attend the 11th global conference organised by the World Malayali Council in Bayern from August 17 to 19.

It is common knowledge that there are hundreds of organisations floated by expatriate Malayalis all over the world, all claiming to be "world" bodies.

In fact, in July the chief minister had been to the US for a fortnight at the invitation of one such organisation. But in the wake of the deluge, Vijayan has cancelled his scheduled trip to the US for treatment.

When the minister's absence at a crucial time was brought to the notice of the CPI leadership, it directed Raju to immediately return to the state.

Admitting it was a "mistake", party state secretary Kanam Rajendran said the minister "should not have gone to Germany in such a grave situation".

However, he ruled out the minister's removal as reportedly demanded by certain party leaders.

Raju, who returned on Monday, told mediapersons the situation was not that grim when he left. But TV footage had shown him addressing the I-Day parade in Kottayam in pouring rain.

Most of his address dwelt on the deteriorating weather while he urged the gathering to be prepared for the worst. The minister left on 15th evening, by when the downpour had started.

"I went to Germany to take part in a function organised by the World Malayali Federation. They are the brothers of the Keralites here," Raju has been quoted as saying.

Sadly, not many takers for 'Brothers Keralites' in God's own country!