THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister M V Govindan will be the new CPM state secretary. The decision was taken at the CPM state committee. The cabinet will also be reshuffled. M V Govindan was made CPM state secretary after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stepped down due to ill health.

'As Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is not able to perform his duties of CPM state secretary due to ill health, M V Govindan has been selected to replace him at the state committee meeting today, ' the party informed through a press release.

The state committee chaired by LDF convener E P Jayarajan was attended by party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, politburo members Prakash Karat, Pinarayi Vijayan, M A Baby, A Vijayaraghavan and others.

Kodiyeri had earlier informed the leadership his desire to step down from the post due to ill health. After the meetings held at various levels, Govindan was selected to helm the party in the state.