KANHANGAD: E P Jayarajan, who had to step down from the Cabinet over allegation of nepotism, and Lok Sabha member P K Sreemathy, a beneficiary of the appointments, were lampooned at the state convention of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association, the women’s wing of the CPM.
On the second day of the three-day state convention being held in Kanhangad, delegates did not pull their punches in attacking the two CPM leaders during confidential group discussions, said sources.
“The nepotistic appointments took the sheen off from the LDF Government’s good work,” said a delegate. The involvement of Sreemathy, a tall leader of AIDWA, in the controversy dented the image of the women’s organisation more than the CPM’s, said delegates. Though Jayarajan quit, his acts made a huge blot on the party, said the delegates.
Another section of delegates said the AIDWA did not get adequate representation in the Assembly election and only those owing allegiance to the “official faction” (read Pinarayi Vijayan faction) got tickets, according to sources.
Some delegates pointed out that tall leaders such as C S Sujatha were kept away from the party. A section of delegates said the AIDWA became active only during conventions, and it was dormant most of the time. “The AIDWA has been reduced to a sub-committee for party activities,” said a source.