'Party made mistakes in candidate selection and election campaign; everyone should engage in self-criticism'

NEW DELHI: CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby on Tuesday admitted that the party had made mistakes in selecting candidates for the Kerala Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters, Baby said the party had shown a lack of vigilance at various levels and that there were shortcomings in its election campaign. He said the party's Central Committee had reviewed these issues.

"The lapses on the part of comrades will affect the party. Everyone in the party should engage in self-criticism," he said.

Baby also said there is no concept of a "leader" in the CPM, adding that everyone in the party is a comrade. He stressed that decisions are not taken by a "high command" alone. He added that the party would convene an extended state committee meeting in Kerala to assess its weaknesses and take corrective measures.

The CPM General Secretary also criticised the UDF and Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan over the proposed Vizhinjam port stake transfer.

"Satheesan's intervention in the issue has been weak. The CPM is opposing the decision to transfer a 49 per cent stake in the Vizhinjam port project to MSC without the state government's knowledge. Why did V.D. Satheesan travel to Mangaluru?" he asked.