KANNUR: To wean away the expelled cadre from the clutches of Vayalkkilikal as they prepare to launch a ‘Long March’ from Keezhattur to Thiruvananthapuram by bringing together all environmental organisations in the state, the CPM has initiated steps to soften up the belligerent former comrades. As part of fresh tactics to win back the confidence of the ousted party workers, CPM district secretary P Jayarajan and other leaders, including Taliparamba area secretary P Mukundan and district committee member K Santhosh, visited the houses of those who were expelled from the party for their involvement in the Keezhattur agitation, on Wednesday morning.
Though they were taken aback by the unexpected visit of the district secretary around 7 am, the friendly visit could not yield the desired results, one of the agitators told Express. The leaders went to the houses of ousted party members to make them aware of the party’s changed stance towards them. “It seems the party is a bit worried about the ‘Long March’, said an active member of the Keezhattur Aikyadardya Samiti. “They are afraid the march will create a statewide ripple against the developmental terrorism being carried out in the state. At this stage, they just can’t afford that.
That’s why the party has changed its tactics in Keezhattur,” he said. Though the leaders reached Keezhattur around 7 am, they could meet only two ousted members in person as the others had already left for their jobs. Prasannan and Balan, with whom the party secretary and others had a chat, said they would stand by the Vayalkkilikal till the end of the agitation. The party leadership had asked them to keep away from the ‘Long March’ and also to sign a white paper to express their willingness to come back to the party. As the dissidents were adamant on their stand, the party move did not yield any result.
P Jayarajan clarifies on Facebook
Meanwhile, Jayarajan said in his Facebook post that the party does not think all those involved in the agitation are anti-party activists. “The party has a stance on the issue. But, most of the agitators are being misled by terrorist elements, who are leading the agitation now. They are behind the move to take the gitation to new levels to destabilise society. It is the CPM’s responsibility to bring back old friends who ere misguided by the enemies of the party,” the post stated.