THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI has initiated what could be termed as disciplinary action against senior leader K E Ismail for taking an open stance against the party’s official line in the Thomas Chandy row. The national executive member has been removed from his role of party’s representative in the LDF. The CPI state executive meet on Wednesday decided to convey its displeasure over Ismail’s action to the national executive, thereby urging the national leadership to take action. The national executive to be held on November 24 and 25 in Delhi will look into the issue.
Instead of Ismail, parliamentary party leader and Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan will attend the LDF meet from now on. Ismail had made some open remarks against the party’s official line of skipping the last Cabinet meet. The executive which met here on Wednesday observed that Ismail’s action was a major violation of party discipline. He came under severe criticism at the state executive. Following this, the state executive recommended to the national leadership to take action against Ismail. No one in the executive supported the leader.
Ismail refused to comment on the party decision. Announcing the decision after the state executive meet, CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said the party has decided to reshuffle its representatives attending the LDF meet. “Earlier four leaders from the party used to attend LDF meetings. We have reworked it into three. Now onwards state secretary Kanam Rajendran, Pannian Raveendran and E Chandrasekharan will attend LDF meets,” he said. Kanam said the executive took the decision unanimously. It was the executive on November 10 that took a call on the party line in the Chandy issue. Based on which the party conveyed its stance before the LDF on November 12.
Later, on November 14, the High Court termed Chandy approaching the court against the government anti-constitutional. That’s why the CPI decided to keep away from the Cabinet meet attended by Chandy. There were certain voices, which can be interpreted as against the party’s official line, and were celebrated by the media. The party executive hence took a unanimous decision. There won’t be different voices within the CPI, Kanam said. Responding to repeated questions, Kanam said the CPI still continues with its earlier stance on skipping the Cabinet meet.
The CPM is free to have its own opinion while the CPI will keep its stance. Responding to questions on certain remarks allegedly made by Ismail, Kanam said the party will look into it. In a way, with the action against Ismail, Kanam has effectively silenced his major critic within the party. Since the issue pertains to the official line taken by the CPI, no one came to Ismail’s support. Since Ismail belongs to the national executive, the state leadership cannot take action against him. The decision to drop him as party nominee before the LDF comes in this backdrop.
Noticeably the party action comes in the backdrop of the CPM - CPI tussle over Thomas Chandy row. There are allegations that a section of senior CPI leaders have been taking a stance against the party’s official faction, thereby supporting the CPM.
CPM’s allegations
“Who knows who all will be there by next election? Whether the LDF will be there? Or even there will be an election; we will come to know about it by then only,” Kanam said responding to questions on senior CPM leader Anathalavattom Anandan’s criticism against the CPI. Anandan had criticised that it’s yet to know whether the CPI would be part of the LDF by next polls.
NCP to take the call
The NCP can take a call on its minister, said Kanam Rajendran. Responding to questions, Kanam said it’s for the party to decide who should be its minister. The CPI has no opposition towards Saseendran returning to the Cabinet, he said.