Even right-wing has realised that CPM could not be written off: Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan said even the right-wing had realised that the CPM could not be written off despite its defeat in the Assembly election. He was inaugurating a public meeting held as part of the extended Thiruvananthapuram district committee meeting of the CPM.

Pinarayi said the rallies held as part of the extended committee meetings had witnessed large public participation. The results of the local body by-elections also showed that the Left could not be written off, he said.

"The LDF had suffered an unexpected and massive defeat in the last election. Right-wing forces, which wanted to see the Left collapse, celebrated the defeat excessively. However, we are not those who get carried away and celebrate blindly in victory, nor do we feel extreme despair in defeat," Pinarayi said.

He alleged that certain people were trying to destroy the credibility of the Public Service Commission (PSC). "Around 60 per cent of government jobs filled through PSCs across the country were provided through the Kerala PSC. Former Governor Arlekar recommended the dissolution of the PSC as part of a deal aimed at undermining the institution. The farewell accorded to the former Governor was an expression of gratitude for the deal. We saw the Chief Minister going to the airport and embracing him," he said.

He also alleged that the UDF government had surrendered to the RSS. The RSS was using the Governor to fill universities with its nominees, but the Higher Education Minister was not willing to utter even a word against it, Pinarayi said.

Leaders' speeches limited to 40 minutes

CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan said the party had decided to limit leaders' speeches at party programmes to 40 minutes. He said the extended area committee meetings would begin on the following day and that reviews would be held once every three months. However, Govindan himself took an hour to conclude his speech.

CPM state secretariat member V. Sivankutty presided over the meeting. M. Vijayakumar, Anavoor Nagappan and district secretary V. Joy also spoke.