CPM Kerala meet: Leadership vows to clamp down on political violence

With back to back references about political killings in Kannur at the state meet, a broad understanding has been reached to clamp down on violence.

CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran makes a point with KC(M) supremo K M Mani during the CPM state conference at Thrissur on Friday as CPM leader Elamaram Kareem (extreme left) and CPM politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai look on | RAMEES M A

THRISSUR: No more tolerance towards political violence indulged in by party cadre. With back to back references about political killings in Kannur at the state meet, a broad understanding has been reached to clamp down on violence, sources said. Given the backdrop, police action in the Shuhaib murder investigation has been intensified.

General secretary Sitaram Yechury’s remarks on political violence has also triggered such a decision. “The killings in Kerala and Yechury’s remarks gain significance in the backdrop of differences among the party top brass. What if the Yechury camp wants Kerala’s political killings to be included in the organisational report for the Party Congress? The state CPM has thought about this possibility,” said sources.

The party state leadership has hence decided to take strict action in the matter. Directives have been issued to the police and an understanding has been reached at the state level, said a central committee member.
“It is total anarchy and challenge to the state’s law and order. Such things cannot be accepted, especially when the Left is in power. The state leadership has made this clear to the cadre. The police have been asked to take the suspected into custody. There will be more arrests in the next two days,” said the senior leader.

Realisation seems to have finally dawned on the party. With public sentiment rising against the cadre, CPM can no longer afford not to rein them in. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is also particular such issues do not affect the government’s image. Meanwhile a section of leaders are worried the probe into the Shuhaib murder could lead to wider dimensions, maybe even pointing fingers at those behind the murder of T P Chandrasekharan.

“It’s a section of cadre in the lower strata of the party who primarily engage in violence. Putting an end to such violence has now become a necessity for the party’s survival. That is why the party is trying to restrict them. Of course, it is a positive move,” pointed out Left observer N M Pearson. However, political commentator Appukuttan Vallikkunnu seems to be sceptical about the intention behind the move. Since it is essential to save face, a few recent acts need to be covered up. But whether the party will be able to address the root cause is the biggest question.

“The party programme makes it clear that physically eliminating political opponents is not the official CPM line. In that case, why cannot the Chief Minister or the state leadership restrict such acts?” he asked.At the meet, the delegates also raised criticism against CPI ministers. Terming them inefficient, some of the delegates said the performance of all four ministers of the CPI was not up to the mark.

Let Mani make his stance clear first: CPM
Thrissur: Even as the CPM organisational report points at the need to expand the Left Font, central committee member A Vijayaraghavan said the CPM has not taken a call in this regard so far. He termed questions on whether the CPM will take K M Mani back into the LDF as “hypothetical”. Central committee member Elamaram Kareem said such decisions are taken based on the situation. “First, let K M Mani make his stance clear. After that, CPM will take its stance,” he added.