CPI general secretary D Raja not invited for public meeting, party violates protocol, issue stirs controversy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The allegation that general secretary D Raja was not informed about the public meeting held yesterday as part of the CPI state conference is becoming controversial. The public meeting was held at Putharikandam ground. D Raja stayed alone at the guest house in Thycaud when the conference was being held. Raja is unhappy that the public meeting was held by violating the usual protocol during CPI conferences and also for not informing him since he is the general secretary.
Raja refused to speak to the media when asked for his response regarding the invitation. But he revealed in an informal conversation that he did not know the details of the inaugural rally. Raja called Central Secretariat member Athulkumar Anjan during the conversation. When Anjan said that he was participating in the public meeting, Raja replied that he was not aware of it. The meeting was inaugurated by state secretary Kanam Rajendran.
At the same time, the leadership's explanation is that while the general secretary inaugurates the delegates’ conference as per the CPI protocol, any other national leaders will attend the public meeting. State secretary Kanam Rajendran inaugurated the conference according to the previously prepared schedule. Party sources also informed that Raja was not invited to the public meeting because the meetings were scheduled to be held on consecutive days.

The public meeting is usually held on the concluding day of state conference. In the last two state conferences, the public meeting was inaugurated by the national leaders. The response of the leadership is that Kanam Rajendran, who is also a member of the Central Secretariat, is part of the national leadership. The state conference was earlier scheduled to be held from today to 4th October. Since there is a public holiday on the 4th due to Mahanavami, the dates were advanced and the public meeting was decided to be held on inaugural day, explained the party.

But the opposite faction is raising the allegation that the state leadership insulted the general secretary and that the state secretary used the public meeting to ensure his dominance.