Kerala: CPM keeps faith in state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
THRISSUR: In an expected move, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the Politburo member from Kannur, was unanimously re-elected as CPM state secretary for another three-year term at the party’s state conference, which concluded here on Sunday.There are no major changes in the state committee either. However, in a subtle generation shift, nine senior leaders were dropped from the 87-member state panel and 10 new faces taken.
In a noticeable development, veteran leader and Administrative Reforms Commission chairman V S Achuthanandan was accommodated as a special invitee in the state committee. The fresh faces include two newly-elected district secretaries -- P Gagarin (Wayanad) and E N Mohandas (Malappuram), DYFI leaders Mohammed Riyaz, A N Shamzeer, Rajya Sabha MP K Somaprasad and former Ernakulam district secretary Gopi Kottamurickal, who was ousted from the party for misconduct in 2012.
Significantly, there is just one new woman leader among the new faces.
The CPM will probe the role of party cadre in the Shuhaib murder. If accused party workers have any role in the incident, strict action will be taken, said party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Condemning the Shuhaib murder and terming it an unfortunate incident, he said there are attempts to use the incident against the party. After the all-party meet called by the Chief Minister, clear directives have been given to all party cadre to neither take the lead nor indulge in violence. Referring to the assault attempt on Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran on Sunday, Kodiyeri termed it an attempt to provoke party workers. The party is of the view political work should be carried out in a peaceful manner. In Kannur, the RSS has been unleashing violence on CPM workers, he said.
No decision on Kerala Cong
The CPM has taken no decision on inducting the K M Mani-led Kerala Congress into the Left Front, said Kodiyeri. At a time when reports of the CPM’s efforts to bring in Mani are creating ripples in the Left fold, the CPM made its stance clear on the issue. LDF expansion plans too were discussed at the state conference.
Kodiyeri said any decision on inducting the Kerala Congress into the LDF will be taken only after consulting the CPI and other allies. A one-sided decision will not be taken.Responding to queries on CPI’s constant criticism of the CPM, the state secretary said the party has no say in deciding the CPI’s stance on issues. There should be attempts to increase the cooperation between the two Left parties. CPM workers should not openly indulge in expressing differences with the
CPI, he said.
One more arrest in murder case Kannur: One more person was arrested in connection with the murder of Youth Congress leader Shuhaib, who was allegedly killed by CPM workers on February 12 at Payyannur. CPM worker Jithin, 23, of Mudakkozhi, son of Mukundan, was arrested by the special investigation team on Sunday, the police said. He was taken into custody from Mudakkozhimala on Sunday morning. The SIT recorded the arrest around 9.30 pm after interrogating him. The police said he was directly involved in the attack. With this, six persons have been arrested so far.
The party has fixed the number of state committee members as 87. At the same time, new faces have to be included. That’s why some seniors decided to step down Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
Gurudasan spl invitee
P K Gurudasan was made a special invitee. The 175 dele-gates for the 22nd Party Congress at Hyderabad
from April 18-22 were named.