M A Baby’s ‘internal treatment’ remark puts CPM leadership under pressure ahead of Kozhikode meet

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM’s expanded state committee meeting in Kozhikode next week is likely to be a crucial turning point for the party, with general secretary M.A. Baby saying in Delhi that the party is undergoing a process of “correction” and “internal treatment”.

With no specific guidelines issued for the discussions, the meeting is expected to see strong criticism of the state leadership. Meanwhile, the state leadership is working on strategies to ensure the criticism does not escalate into a demand for a change in leadership.

The leadership is reportedly trying to keep the district units under control by warning that sharp criticism could trigger factionalism and harm the party. The opposing camp, however, maintains that allowing the present leadership to continue is what would damage the party. Second-rung leaders who could take charge of the party in the future are backing this position, with Thomas Isaac emerging as the face of the camp.

Those demanding comprehensive corrective measures within the party are preparing to step up their criticism of the leadership in the absence of a clear framework for the discussions. State secretary M.V. Govindan is expected to come under particular scrutiny. Pinarayi Vijayan, who had called on party workers to correct their mistakes at a public meeting, has largely remained silent at party leadership meetings in recent times.

The state leadership maintains that there is no need to reopen discussions on the reasons for the electoral defeat. The CPM state committee meeting to approve the report on corrective measures begins today. A decision will be taken after discussions on the draft report approved by the state secretariat.

Five PB members from outside Kerala may pave the way for open discussion

1. Five Politburo members from outside Kerala are expected to attend the expanded state committee meeting in Kozhikode from January 13 to 15, where there is a possibility that attempts could be made to silence criticism. These leaders favour an open discussion. The five PB members from outside Kerala are K. Balakrishnan, U. Vasuki, B.V. Raghavulu, Ashok Dhawale and Viju Krishnan.
2. If Politburo members Pinarayi Vijayan, M.V. Govindan and A. Vijayaraghavan defend the state leadership, the available Politburo could meet and override that position. General secretary M.A. Baby is expected to support the majority view.
3. Baby’s statement in Delhi that the party was undergoing “internal treatment” is also being seen as carrying several implications, including the possibility of several leaders coming under criticism.
4. CPM Central Committee member Thomas Isaac’s reiteration on Sunday that the leadership should correct itself if there were failures also comes against this backdrop. The opposing camp has been conducting a campaign by circulating the Central Committee report and its Malayalam translation on social media.

“The expanded state committee meeting in Kozhikode is being held to address the weaknesses and make the party stronger.”
- M.A. Baby, CPM general secretary