CPM underlines its policy again - party above individuals

Kozhikode: The CPM has literally stunned the state with the announcement of the new cabinet including only new faces. However, the party upheld its declared policy that party is more important than individuals. This was made clear by the leaders from EMS to Pinarayi Vijayan.

Earlier, there were speculations that apart from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister KK Shailaja also will be exempted from the no-second term policy and included in the cabinet. However, all predictions were proved wrong when the new cabinet was announced.

Though some of the party leaders opined that Shailaja's excellent performance as health minister should have been considered just like that of the chief minister, most of the other leaders have adjusted with the new list.

The experiment with the new faces is the result of the campaigns based on individuals rather than the party. CPM had faced the crisis of having leaders who have larger image than the party itself. The activities of V S Achuthanandan as opposition leader also ended up in conflicts within the party.

When VS was denied seat in two elections, the party had to answer several questions on the same. Earlier, CPM had faced similar situation when MV Raghavan came up and later K R Gouri Amma raised dissent in the past. P Jayarajan who had a fan base in Kannur also was restricted later.

Though KK Shailaja did not engage in such activities, she gained more public support than the party during the Covid times. The decision to exclude her from the cabinet was a precaution to avoid the formation of an image larger than the party.