PP Divya, once considered a promising face of the CPM in Kannur, has stepped down from her position as District Panchayat President. Her resignation comes after a controversial incident during Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Naveen Babu's farewell meeting, where she came uninvited and her comments sparked backlash. The situation intensified after Naveen Babu's death, which was reportedly a suicide, occurring shortly after Divya’s remarks. This incident is particularly noteworthy as it took place during a time when the CPM was increasingly recognising the importance of women in leadership roles.

Divya's political journey began in her hometown, where her upbringing and the influence of her father, a drama artist, played a crucial role in shaping her political beliefs. Her active participation in local political activities led her to join the Communist Party at a young age. She received her early education at Irinavu L.P. School, Kunhikannan Vaidyar Smaraka Muslim U.P. School, and Cherukunnu Government Girls Vocational Higher Secondary School.

After enrolling at Krishna Menon Memorial Government Women's College in Kannur for her plus two studies, Divya became a prominent activist within the Students' Federation of India (SFI). Her political involvement grew when she later pursued her graduate studies in Malayalam. She rose through the ranks to become a central committee member of the SFI and a state vice-in-charge of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). At present, she is a member of the Kannur District Committee of the party and a member of the State Executive Committee of the Democratic Women's Association. In her political career, she was as a District Panchayat Member for the Cherukunnu division from 2005 to 2010, and later won the Kalliasseri division from 2015 to 2020, where she held the position of Vice President.

Divya was regarded as a potential successor to prominent leaders such as P. Sathidevi, P. K. Sreemathy and KK Shailaja, with many anticipating her ascent to an MLA position, ministerial role, or even state leadership within the party. However, her career took an unexpected turn following her remarks at Naveen Babu's farewell meeting. In a moment of perceived immaturity, she faced immense criticism and was forced to resign.

The response from the CPM District Secretariat meeting following Naveen Babu's death indicated distancing from Divya. Although the District Panchayat President acknowledged the need to address corruption, the party's stance was that Divya's comments during the farewell meeting were inappropriate. They called for a thorough investigation by the government. Following the police's filing of a case, the party demanded her resignation. In a Facebook post announcing the news of her resignation, Divya noted that she stands by the party's position that certain parts of her comments should have been omitted. Divya added that her innocence will be proved through legal process.

Divya’s statement on Facebook

The full text of her Facebook post reads:

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Kannur ADM Naveen Babu. My heartfelt condolences go out to his bereaved family. I will fully cooperate with the police during the investigation and am committed to proving my innocence through the legal process. While my criticism of corruption was made with good intentions, I recognise that certain parts of my response should have been omitted. Therefore, I believe it is in everyone's best interest for me to resign from my position as District Panchayat President."

PP Divya,
President, Kannur District Panchayat