Kollam (Kerala): Chintha Jerome, a central committee member of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and a CPM state committee member, is likely to be chosen as the organisation's first female state president. The decision was taken during the DYFI fraction meeting held recently.

Former SFI state secretary and MLA M Vijin will become the state secretary, while Rahul from Alappuzha is set to be the new treasurer. CPM state secretary M V Govindan presented the panel at the fraction meeting.

It is understood that the CPM state secretariat, meeting in the coming days, will approve the panel. The office-bearers are to be officially elected at the state conference taking place in Thrissur from August 19 to 22. The practice generally followed is to elect office-bearers through a fraction meeting.

However, a member from Kannur raised criticisms regarding the election method. An age limit of 38 years for becoming office-bearers has been strictly implemented, which worked in Vijin's favour. The criticism, however, was that many are excluded due to the age limit simply because organisational conferences do not take place on time.

Criticism had previously arisen within the organisation that the stipulation requiring at least one of the main district office-bearers in the DYFI to be a woman had been diluted. The decision taken by the DYFI state secretariat following directives from the CPM state leadership was subverted in a majority of districts.

Only four female district presidents were elected, and no woman was given the secretary post in any district. Women became presidents in Kannur, Palakkad, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The stipulation was introduced after the Idukki and Pathanamthitta district conferences had already concluded.

In Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram districts, the post of treasurer was given to women. Through constitutional amendments, the DYFI has strictly mandated ensuring at least 20 per cent female representation in all committees.

The new decision was that, rather than being mere committee members, female leaders should be elected to key office-bearing positions.