How to correct party? CPM extended state committee begins amid accusations of silencing dissent

KOZHIKODE: The three-day extended state committee meeting of the CPM began in Kozhikode on Sunday. The meeting has been convened with the aim of initiating corrective measures following the party’s severe setback in the assembly elections. Senior leader Paloli Mohammed Kutty hoisted the party flag marking the beginning of the meeting.

CPM general secretary M A Baby inaugurated the meeting at 10 am at the AKG Hall at the CPM Kozhikode District Committee office. State secretary M V Govindan will present the report, followed by discussions. Politburo members K Balakrishnan, B V Raghavulu, Ashok Dhawale and Viju Krishnan are attending the meeting as observers. A total of 307 delegates, including district secretariat members, office-bearers of mass and class organisations, and invitees to the state committee, are participating in the extended state committee meeting.

The meeting, which aims at self-correction and renewal, will discuss the party’s severe defeat in the elections as well as the political developments that followed. There is a strong possibility that criticism will be raised against leaders including Pinarayi Vijayan and M V Govindan. Against this backdrop, it has been decided to conduct the discussions at the extended committee meeting without the regular state committee members taking part. Only district secretariat members and representatives of class and mass organisations will participate in the discussion on the party’s organisational report. Reports say that it is intended to prevent the demand for a change in the party leadership from coming up during the discussions.

The three-day state committee meeting will conclude with a massive rally at the Kozhikode beach, where one lakh people are expected to participate. General Secretary M A Baby, opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary M V Govindan and politburo member A Vijayaraghavan are among those scheduled to address the rally.