KANNUR: When Kannur, the birth place of Communist party becomes the venue for 23rd party congress, it creates a new history. The conference is to be held at Kannur Nayanar Academy from April 6 to 10. Organizing committee office started functioning in Kannur collectorate premises. Home campaigns are also in the final stages.

Kannur which has greater number of party members, is CPM's stronghold in India. Preparations have been made in the city for party conference.The number of delegates to the conference will exceed 800, including 400 delegates from different states of India and friendly delegates.

Kannur has many historical moments associated with CPM. It is the land of current Chief Minister who brought successive rule in the history of Kerala and also most number of party secretaries and leaders are from Kannur.

During the last four years, CPM's strength and influence have increased in Kannur. There was an increase of 13 local committees, 562 branches, 6047 party members, 296 favourable groups and 1710 group members.At present the district has 18 area committees, 243 local committees, 4247 branches and 61,688 party members. There was an increase of two lakh members in class and mass organizations. The membership of all the organizations has increased to 28.15 lakhs. With the conferences, 167 branch secretaries and two local secretaries are women. The leadership estimates that 1561 people from other parties have joined the CPM.

It will be a historic conference , said M.V. Jayarajan CPM District Secretary, Kannur. The city is all set to organise party congress for the first time.