THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Discontent is brewing within the CPI after party State secretary Kanam Rajendran justified the police action against party workers during their march to IG office in Ernakulam. Party MLA Eldo Abraham, district secretary K N Sugathan and other leaders were beaten up by the police during the lathi-charge.

In the coming days, CPI leaders may come out openly against Kanam. Posters against Kanam have already started appearing on the walls of Alappuzha district committee office. “Remove Kanam, save CPI,” read the posters.

Party leaders are bemused by Kanam’s sudden change in attitude vis a vis his whistle-blower image within the LDF. What has irked party workers is the soft stand he took against the police even when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan denounced the police action.

Kanam is also being criticised for going to AKG centre alone and holding talks with the chief minister over the lathi-charge issue.