CPM planning tough action against A Padma Kumar, will he be expelled from party?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reports say the CPM is planning to take tough action against A Padma Kumar, former president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case. He is presently a member of the party's Pathanamthitta district committee. It is heard that he may be ousted from the party.

A decision will be taken in the state secretariat, which started this morning and then it will be communicated to the Pathanamthitta district committee. Further steps will be implemented by the Pathanamthitta district secretariat. His arrest has put the party on the defensive. With only days left for the local body elections, there is a general demand for tough action to save the party's face.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan had yesterday said that only honest people are dear to the party, which is clear evidence that the party is deserting Padma Kumar. Padma Kumar had contacted many political executives to avoid his arrest, but they all isolated him. The party will not interfere in the SIT's investigation. Pathanamthitta district secretary Raju Abraham said yesterday that the party will not take a stand to protect anyone.

Padma Kumar was kept apart from all important posts of the party due to his tainted background. He had publicly questioned the inclusion of Minister Veena George as a special invitee in the party state committee. This is also one of the reasons cited to oust him.

Along with political activities, he was into car business, real estate and cement business in the 80s. A huge controversy sparked against him on the financial irregularities while serving as the president of the Aranmula Service Cooperative Bank, Naalkalikkal. The party had discussed how Padma Kumar, who was once on the verge of a severe financial collapse, later rose to a higher financial status.