PALAKKAD: Signalling fresh churn in local politics, long-simmering discontent within the Palakkad CPM crystallised on Thursday when dissident leaders at a well-attended convention addressed by influential local leader and former MLA P K Sasi decided to float a new political party and align with the Opposition UDF ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
Sasi is likely to contest the assembly elections from Ottappalam as UDF candidate, sources in the rebel platform, temporarily named as Marxist Janadhipathya Koottayma (Marxist Democratic Collective), said.
They said the collective is trying to rope in former personal assistant of late CPM veteran V S Achuthananthan, tipped to be the UDF-backed independent in Malampuzha.
Minutes after the convention, the CPM Palakkad district committee announced the expulsion of Sasi, a former district secretariat member, from the party’s primary membership.
Earlier, addressing a nearly thousand-strong gathering, Sasi said the event was not a rebel meet, but a coming together of “real communists” who took pride in being revolutionaries. Launching a scathing attack on the CPM’s Palakkad district leadership, he singled out district secretary E N Suresh Babu, accusing him of fostering divisions within the party and alleging involvement in illicit spirit sales, corruption and autocratic functioning.
‘No permanent friends or enemies in politics’
“The party has never witnessed such large-scale fund collection as it does now. Many crucial decisions — including the selection of area committee secretaries — are being taken by the district leadership during boozing sessions. We have clear evidence against the district secretary, and if Suresh Babu dares us, we will make it all public,” Sasi said.
Claiming the support of seven members in the district committee, Sasi said, “They have assured us that they will join us at the right moment.”
The convention also saw participation from several regional platforms, including Voice of Vadakkanchery, Democratic Marxist Front and Mannarkad Janakeyya Mathethara Munnani. Announcing Sasi’s expulsion, the CPM Palakkad district committee dismissed his allegations and accused the dissident group of trying to regain political relevance after facing party’s disciplinary action, including for financial irregularities.
Meanwhile, Sasi struck a cautious note while speaking to reporters after the convention. Confirming that he would remain active in politics and public life, he however, denied that any discussions had been held with the state Congress leadership regarding his possible candidature from Ottapalam.
“There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. What matters is class interests. Our future course of action will be announced later,” he said when asked whether the new outfit would align with the Congress.
Political observers say the impact the new formation would have on local politics could be gauged only after the assembly election results are out.