‘Better to merge with CPM’: Kerala CPI leaders demand dissolution of party state secretariat

Kollam: The CPI State leadership faced scathing criticism during the Kollam District Council meeting. A senior leader questioned the very existence of the State Secretariat, a body formed during the last conference, suggesting that "it is better for the district unit to merge with the CPM" than continue under the current state of affairs.

The leader emphasised that party reforms must begin at the top rather than at the lower levels. While these remarks were made, other council members reportedly remained silent. Sources indicate that another council member from the eastern region, known to be close to the district leadership, also joined in the criticism against the state hierarchy.

The outburst occurred during a leadership meeting intended to discuss membership details, notably skipping the scheduled agenda of election analysis. Other members reportedly refrained from raising election-related issues during this specific session.

The veteran leader behind the criticism has been at odds with the state leadership for some time. Following the tensions, the District Executive and Council have decided to meet on June 3 and 4 to formally analyse the election results, with State Secretary Binoy Viswam expected to attend. Ahead of this, constituency-level analysis meetings involving state leaders will be held across all constituencies in the district, not just those contested by the party.

The critiques were voiced in the presence of state executive member and district in-charge Mullakkara Ratnakaran, National Council member J Chinchu Rani, and District Secretary P S Supal.

Kollam is traditionally a CPI stronghold. However, the party suffered a major blow in the recent Assembly elections, losing the Chathannoor seat to the BJP. This was the sitting seat of CPI State Secretariat member R Rajendran. Critics alleged that Secretariat members, who should have been leading the campaign, were instead preoccupied with their own candidacies, leading to the party's downfall.

There were further allegations that the State Secretariat was directly responsible for the BJP's victory in Chathannoor. Issues regarding candidate selection were also raised, specifically citing "parachuted" candidates in Adoor and strategic failures in Vaikom. The primary demand from the District Executive is an immediate and thorough discussion on these lapses.