Kannur: Senior CPM leader T K Govindan on Monday sharply criticised party state secretary M V Govindan over the decision to field the latter's wife, P K Shyamala, as the candidate from the Taliparamba Assembly constituency.

Addressing a press conference in Kannur, T K Govindan said he had personally conveyed his opposition to M V Govindan during party discussions, stating that he could not agree with the move to field Shyamala after M V Govindan had already served three terms as MLA from the constituency.

T K Govindan argued that the party’s own policy states that leaders should not contest after two terms, and questioned the logic of allowing a third-term MLA’s spouse to contest from the same seat.

“If someone who has already served three terms as MLA now wants the fourth term to go to his wife, what does that mean? In effect, it is the same person continuing in power,” he said.

He alleged that the attempt to field Shyamala arose because M V Govindan, now serving as the party’s state secretary, could not himself contest the election.

Criticism over candidate selection process

T K Govindan said he had strongly opposed what he described as unprecedented trends within the party, adding that the candidate selection decision did not conform to the party’s organisational norms or moral standards.

According to the party, the district secretariat is normally the first body to discuss and prepare the candidate list. However, he claimed that the district secretary directly proposed that a woman candidate be fielded in Kannur, specifically naming P K Shyamala for Taliparamba.

At the same time, he said a proposal was placed that sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan himself should contest from Payyannur.

T K Govindan said these proposals faced strong opposition within the district secretariat. He clarified that the objection to Madhusoodanan was not about personal capability but about controversies and allegations raised earlier against him.

Though the party had investigated the accusations and found no conclusive evidence, T K Govindan said doubts still persisted among some party workers and the public.

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“Considering the situation, it was flagged in the secretariat that fielding someone standing under a cloud of suspicion and who cannot fully convince people may not be appropriate,” he said.

Alternative candidate suggestion ignored

Regarding Taliparamba, Govindan said some leaders suggested that another woman leader, N Sukanya, could be considered instead.

He said he had expressed his views during the discussion and expected the differing opinions to be reported to higher committees.

However, he alleged that only P K Shyamala’s name was eventually forwarded to the state secretariat.

“With just one name reaching the state leadership, it was naturally approved,” he said.

The proposal later returned to the district committee, where, according to Govindan, it again triggered strong criticism.

Strong dissent in the district committee

Govindan said that when the matter was discussed in the district committee meeting, he was presiding over the session.

He claimed that, except for three members, almost everyone present raised criticism about the Taliparamba candidacy decision.

“Never before have leaders faced such intense criticism while sitting in a district committee meeting,” he said.

Despite the criticism, he said no reconsideration of the candidate took place.

Decision to leave the party

Govindan said he warned during discussions that the decision could prove politically risky and might even lead to defeat in Taliparamba.

However, when the leadership refused to reconsider the matter, he concluded that he could no longer continue in the party.

“I told them that I would have to end my association with the party,” he said.

Six decades of political work

Beginning his press conference with a personal account of his political journey, Govindan said he had been active in party work for nearly 60 years.

He said his political life began through the Kerala Students Federation (KSF) and that he had worked alongside leaders such as P K Sreemathy in the early days.

Later, he became a teacher and entered organisational leadership at a young age, serving as the Taliparamba taluk secretary of KSYF at the age of 25, during the Emergency period when many were reluctant to take up political responsibilities.

T K Govindan said he later worked with M V Govindan in the Taliparamba area committee and eventually became the secretary of the Sreekandapuram area committee.

He recalled travelling 8–9 kilometres on foot from his home to attend party activities in Sreekandapuram during those years. Govindan noted he served as area committee secretary in several places, including Mayyil, and said he had held the post for around 25 years in total.