THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI leaders Venjarammoodu Sasi and P Ramachandran Nair, who faced disciplinary action over the candidature of Bennet Abraham, have reacted strongly in the open against the party decision.
Speaking to mediapersons, immediately after his removal from the post of the district secretary, Venjarammoodu Sasi said neither he nor any other individual played a special role in selecting Bennet Abraham as LS candidate.
“The candidates were selected by the state secretariat. The district council had recommended a list with three names: C Divakaran, Binoy Viswam and P Ramachandran Nair. The name of Bennet Abraham was not there in the district council’s list. The state executive wanted to include E Chandrasekharan Nair too. Finally it was the state secretariat which decided on Bennet Abraham,” said Venjarammoodu Sasi. Sasi said he had a long association with the CPI but, at this juncture, after having faced the disciplinary action for a fault that was not his, he did not want to continue in the party.
“I will definitely continue as a political activist. But not with the CPI. I have to consult my friends. In a couple of days I will meet the media again,” he said.
P Ramachandran Nair, who was demoted to the district council from the state executive said the disciplinary action against him is indicative of the emergence of factional feuds in the party.
“The latest developments are part of hijacking the party ahead of the upcoming party conference. As of now I accept the party decisions including the one to strip me off the post of CMD, Janayaugam.
“But I want to clarify that there are no reports suggesting that I had accepted bribes or committed fraud while dealing with the election fund. If the party secretary makes any comments contradicting this, I would meet you with evidence of the audited accounts of the election expenses,” Ramachandran Nair said.
C Divakaran said he would abide by the party decision and welcomes it. “There is no problem in initiating disciplinary action against me. I have been working in the party for the last 60 years. I may have committed lapses. Party has the right to initiate action. If the party wants to correct me I will do so. In fact I am happy about it,” he said.