E-Paper
Sign In
Factionalism resurfaces in Kerala CPM
TRIVANDRUM - Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan's move to reach out to party workers facing disciplinary action has revived the factionalism in the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the run up to the conferences that will elect the new committees and office-bearers.
- PUBLISHED: Mon 1 Aug 2011, 9:20 PM UPDATED: Tue 20 Aug 2024, 4:06 PM
The party secretariat, dominated by the rival faction headed by party state secretary Pinairayi Vijayan, viewed seriously Achuthanandan's statement in Kasargod district on Saturday that the party will review the action taken against eight members of the Uduma branch committee for leading a demonstration to protest the party's move to deny a ticket to him in the Assembly election.
A statement issued by the party after the secretariat meeting here on Sunday said that the eight members were suspended from the party by the district committee as per a collective decision and it will not be revoked under any circumstances.
Recommended For You
The statement accused the senior leader of confusing the party workers and warned that disciplinary against all those violating the party discipline will continue. The secretariat has also decided to take up the issue with the party's national leadership as they feel it would bring factionalism back into the party's elections. Achuthanandan questioned the party's locus standi to take the action, saying the central committee of the party had termed the state committee's decision to deny him a ticket wrong. Hence the demonstration against that decision could not be held anti-party. He also questioned the party's authority to take the action in view of the commencement of the process for the organisational elections in the party.
However, CPM Kasargod district secretary Satish Chandran said that the party had not approved the demonstration and hence it was an anti-party act. “If the action was not tenable, the higher committee of the party would have informed us. If they give any such direction we will implement it”, he added.
He pointed out that none has been expelled from the party in connection with the demonstrations. “They have only been suspended for three months. If they correct their ways before the suspension period they will be reinstated”, he said.
Political observers view Achuthanandan's move as a clear sign of his plans to capture the organization in the organisational elections. They see his attempt to reach out to the rebels in as part of a wider plan to widen his support base.
Achuthanandan had created a stir in the party by defying its diktat not to meet expelled leader Berlin Kunhanandan Nair in Kannur district. The latter had invited him for a luncheon meeting. The senior leader, however, visited him and accepted a soft drink, saying that the party had only banned the lunch.
The number of the rebels in the CPM had swelled after the Vijayan faction treaded a liberal line against the hard line adopted by Achuthanandan and his supporters. The rebels, who have come together under different banners, are a force to be reckoned with in many places.
Achuthanandan is apparently trying to wean them back to the party in the light of recognition of his leadership by the central committee of the CPM. The central leadership had attributed the better show in the Assembly election to his leadership and the good performance of his government.
news@khaleejtimes.com