MV Raghavan and Pinarayi Vijayan | Photos: Mathrubhumi
Kochi: Both the state conferences of CPM held at Ernakulam has one thing in common. The debate over the resolutions discussed in these meets. In 1985, the then CPM strongman from Kannur, MV Raghavan, presented an 'alternative party line' called 'Badal Rekha'. Pinarayi Vijayan, a close aid of Raghavan, was also present at the conference. However, the party dismissed it and eventually expelled Raghavan for not changing his position.
However, after 37 years, when Pinarayi Vijayan, a much more powerful leader in present Kerala and the party than Raghavan was back then, proposed a policy document that is seen as a big change in its political line, was accepted by the conference without much opposition.
Both these conferences will be part of the history thanks to these resolutions.
The Badal Rekha was against the policy of CPM at the national level. It sought an alliance with Muslim League. Before presenting it at the conference, the document was leaked to the media. It was voted out in the conference in a tense environment. Raghavan was ousted from the party in three months.
MK Kannan, who was expelled from CPM along with Raghavan in 1985, attended this state conference. After returning to the party from CMP, he was a special invitee to the previous conference. Kannan was inducted into the state committee as well. A faction of CMP was merged with CPM recently. Raghavan's son MV Nikesh Kumar contested from Azhikode, his father's former forte, for CPM in 2016.
The policy change adopted in this conference is put forth as the way forward for the party in the changing times. It is well within the ideological limits of the party, state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.
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