Is groupism returning to CPM? Sivankutty included in Secretariat to sideline Brittas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The reorganisation of the state secretariat indicates that groupism is once again becoming stronger within the CPM after a long period. There were virtually no dissenting voices after Pinarayi Vijayan completely brought the party under his control after eliminating the V S Achuthanandan faction.

Pinarayi became the central figure for all party members or was made so. Those who refused to fall in line were pushed out, while others were sidelined and confined to the corners. Thus, the party came to be identified almost entirely with Pinarayi. However, after the party suffered a major defeat in the assembly election, everything turned upside down. Even those who had stood by him turned against Pinarayi. This eventually led to the expanded state committee meeting and the subsequent reorganisation.

Reports say the inclusion of V Sivankutty in the state secretariat was a move by the anti-Pinarayi faction to sideline John Brittas. The Pinarayi faction took a firm stand that one of the three new members should be Brittas. To block this, the emerging faction adopted a new strategy. They decided that one of the three should instead be Sivankutty. Their stand won.

With this, V Sivankutty joined the secretariat along with M B Rajesh and P Jayarajan. John Brittas was made an invitee to the secretariat. Reports also indicate that a major reshuffle in the district committees is likely to take place soon. Kannur is expected to see the most significant changes. It is heard that several senior leaders are likely to be removed.

The reorganisation and the disciplinary measures are being seen as a setback for the Pinarayi–M V Govindan axis. The central leadership took the stand that party workers should be convinced that organisational weaknesses had been addressed. There should be effective discussions in the secretariat. Moving forward by merely following the leadership’s instructions without criticism would weaken the organisation. With M A Baby and others extending their support, those dissatisfied have come together under one umbrella. As the strong criticism raised by the Kannur district committee was echoed by party members in other districts, the state leadership found themselves isolated.