'Should not bow down to CPM's arrogance'; CPI council takes tough stance amid fuss over PM Shri scheme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI State Council meeting held on Thursday decided to stick to its previous stance, not to accept the PM Shri project.

Party Secretary Binoy Viswam said that he conveyed his disagreement with the CPM State Secretary because the project was a Sangh Parivar agenda. The council members demanded that the leadership take a tough stance and not bow down to CPM's arrogance. The CPI members insisted on convening a state council meeting if CPM is heading for a change in stance.

Earlier, CPI had to soften its stance on the Elappully brewery issue after CPM passed the agenda, ignoring the strong discontent from allies. The incident led to rumours of prominent members leaving the party. 10 members from the Kollam district committee left CPI last week. This was considered a major setback, considering the upcoming elections. The state and district leadership were equally blamed for the exodus.

CPI members also turned against CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan for his ‘which CPI’ remark made during a presser when journalists quizzed him about the discontent within allies in LDF. CPI members opined that Govindan's arrogance should have been responded to in the same manner.

Meanwhile, MV Govindan admitted to Binoy Viswam of not making such a statement at the press meet.