CPM Central Committee's stand key to Kerala unit's course correction

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM Central Committee meeting, scheduled to begin on July 11, is expected to be crucial for the Kerala state leadership as the party discusses measures to recover from its heavy defeat in the Assembly elections.

The party's central leadership had expressed dissatisfaction with the report submitted by the Kerala unit on the reasons for the electoral setback. According to sources, the report did not fully reflect the views and criticisms that emerged during discussions at the grassroots level. Party discussions reportedly saw sharp criticism of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state secretary M. V. Govindan. However, these criticisms were omitted from the report prepared by the state secretariat. Instead, the report said the entire leadership should take collective responsibility for the defeat. The state leadership also reportedly failed to provide a clear explanation on issues such as the need for changes in the party's functioning and political style.

The central leadership has also reportedly expressed concern over the growing parliamentary ambitions among senior leaders in the Kerala unit. The state leadership has maintained that the decision of leaders such as V. Kunhikrishnan, T. K. Govindan, and G. Sudhakaran to leave the party and join the United Democratic Front (UDF) was driven by electoral ambitions.

Another issue expected to come up at the meeting is the disagreement between the central and state leadership over candidate selection in Thaliparamba. General Secretary M. A. Baby had made remarks regarding the selection of P. K. Shyamala as the party's candidate, but his comments were later rejected by Pinarayi Vijayan and M. V. Govindan. Political observers say the meeting could reveal whether the differences between the central and state leadership have widened.

Meanwhile, a new group questioning the current state leadership's stand has reportedly emerged within the Kerala unit. The group comprising leaders such as P. Rajeev, K. N. Balagopal, and Puthalath Dinesan is said to be supportive of the central leadership's call for corrective measures within the party.