Kollam: In a major reshuffle in the CPM state leadership, the party has appointed 89 members to its state committee, including 17 new faces, on Sunday.

Among the new members are S. Jayamohan (Kollam), M. Prakashan Master (Kannur), V.K. Sanoj (Kannur), V. Vaseef (Kozhikode), K. Santhakumari (Palakkad), R. Bindu (Thrissur), M. Anilkumar (Ernakulam), K. Prasad (Alappuzha), B.R. Raghunath (Kottayam), D.K. Murali (Thiruvananthapuram), M. Rajagopal (Kasaragod), K. Rafiq (Wayanad), M. Mehaboob (Kozhikode), V.P. Anil (Malappuram), and K.V. Abdul Khader (Thrissur). Meanwhile, Health Minister Veena George and Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas have been included as special invitees to the state committee.

This the first time veteran leader M.V. Govindan has been appointed as the state secretary at CPM state committee. Govindan took over the position on August 28, 2022, following the demise of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Meanwhile, Susan Kodi was removed from the state committee following factionalism row in Karunagappally.

The 17-member secretariat now includes K.K. Shailaja, M.V. Jayarajan, and C.N. Mohanan. Senior leaders such as M.B. Rajesh, P. Jayarajan, Kadakampally Surendran, Udayabhanu, and P. Sasi were considered but did not secure a place in the secretariat.

Anavoor Nagappan, A.K. Balan, and P.K. Sreemathy were excluded from the state secretariat due to the age limit.

Earlier today, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reiterated that the policies outlined by the CPM would only be implemented within the party’s ideological framework.

His remarks were in response to discussions on the policy document ‘New Paths for Nava Kerala’ presented at the CPM state conference.

Addressing concerns over the proposed policy’s stance on private sector participation and the introduction of levies and fees, Vijayan emphasized the government’s commitment to public welfare. He assured that any revenue mobilization measures would not be anti-people.