Is CPM heading for another group? ‘B Team’ allegations intensify as Sreemathi rejects K K Ragesh

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM leadership was taken aback when senior leader E P Jayarajan dismissed the move by opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and party state secretary M V Govindan to politically target V D Satheesan government in the Vizhinjam port deal controversy. Jayarajan’s statement had turned beneficial to the state government. However, with central committee member P K Sreemathy also coming forward rejecting Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh in the Vizhinjam controversy, speculations are rife that there are differences of opinion in the party.

Sreemathy said there is a lack of clarity in what Ragesh had stated and that leaders should not speak vaguely. There should be clarity in one’s statement. She clarified that her stand on Vizhinjam is the same as that of E P Jayarajan. Ragesh had earlier questioned the agenda behind the sudden removal of former managing director of Vizhinjam International Seaport.

Responding to this, Sreemathy said IAS officer Divya S Iyer is an efficient administrator who remains loyal to whichever government is in power. She said changes are natural and that she does not believe that any wrongdoing was committed by her. The chief minister should explain the reasons for transferring her. I don’t have the same opinion as that of John Brittas. The changes are as per the government’s decision.

She clarified that she was neither supporting nor opposing K K Ragesh, but if he raises such an issue, he should also explain the reasons behind it so that the public can understand. The fact that CPM leaders appear to be divided in two camps on the Vizhinjam issue is being viewed as a major challenge for the party. The most significant development was E P Jayarajan publicly rejecting the stand taken by state secretary M V Govindan on rebel leaders leaving the party and the Vizhinjam port deal controversy.

The core issue is that a matter repeatedly raised by Politburo members Pinarayi Vijayan and M V Govindan, including allegations of financial irregularities, was publicly dismissed by a central committee member. This has made it clear that differing opinions exist within the party on a subject the leadership had described as mysterious and harmful.

Political observers are closely watching whether Pinarayi Vijayan will openly oppose E P Jayarajan, who wields considerable influence in Kannur.

For nearly two decades, Pinarayi had not distanced himself from Jayarajan despite several controversies involving him. He had even defended national general secretary M A Baby when he indirectly criticized the decision to field P K Shyamala as the candidate.

Jayarajan is reportedly among the leading figures in the faction demanding that M V Govindan be removed from the post of party secretary. Indications are that he made his remarks fully aware that they could trigger serious discussions within the party.

M V Govindan had recently levelled strong allegations linking V D Satheesan’s visit to Mangaluru with the Vizhinjam share-transfer issue. With a single response, E P Jayarajan effectively rejected those allegations.

While Pinarayi Vijayan and M V Govindan raised corruption allegations targeting V D Satheesan, Jayarajan dismissed the claims, saying that if anyone has made allegations, they themselves should explain them. He also pointed out that any change in the contract terms would require approval from both the state and central governments and that the contractor alone cannot create a separate external agreement.