THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM politburo member M A Baby has come out with an article in a magazine referring to the cash-for-seat controversy and the disciplinary action initiated against the CPI leaders in connection with the ‘gifting’ of Lok Sabha seat here to Bennet Abraham.
This is likely to create ripples in the CPM in the coming days. As the party’s branch conferences are just a few months ahead, it is likely the cadre will question the CPM leadership’s role on fielding Bennet as the candidate from here. There had been reports that Bennet who had close association with the top leadership in the CPM and had served as a PSC member for six years was a CPM nominee.
Being a close confidant of top CPM leadership in the state, his candidature could not have gone unnoticed by the CPM. It is a known fact that the CPM had impressed upon the CPI leadership for gifting the seat here. As the CPI wanted to hold on to their claim on the seat here, it had to give ears to the demands of the ‘Big brother’ CPM.Politburo member M A Baby’s opinion that CPM also had a role as leading partner should have been seen in that perspective.
The candidature of Christy Fernandez as LDF candidate in Ernakulam has already raked up a row.