The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), the women’s wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), has seen a leadership reshuffle affecting its Kerala chapter.

Former Kannur district panchayat president and CPM leader P P Divya has been removed from her post as joint secretary of the association. The removal decision follows instructions reportedly issued by the CPM state leadership to relieve Divya of her responsibilities. She had also been excluded from party nominations in recent local body elections. It may be noted that CPM faced criticism following the suicide of former ADM Naveen Babu, for which Divya remains the sole accused.

Divya was previously removed from the district president position and demoted from the CPM district committee to the branch committee in the aftermath of Naveen Babu’s death. The move has been widely interpreted as a response to public and internal scrutiny surrounding the case.

State-level leadership changes

At the state level, AIDWA president Susan Kody has been replaced by central committee member KS Saleekha. CS Sujatha continues as secretary, while E Padmavathi has been appointed treasurer.

Observers suggest Kody’s removal from the CPM state committee over factional disputes at the Karunagappally party conference may have paved the way for her ouster from AIDWA leadership.