ALLEPPEY: With a massive crackdown on the CPM in Alappuzha on the grounds of extreme sectarianism, Minister Saji Cherian's faction managed to gain an upper hand in the party's district secretariat. Many of those demoted are from the opposite side, including MLA PP Chittaranjan.

The previous mass action in the party in the district was related to the defeat of VS Achuthanandan in Mararikulam in the 1996 assembly elections. Action was taken against many people including District Secretariat member TK Palani and Area Secretary CK Bhaskaran. TJ Anjalose was expelled from the party in connection with the defeat of CS Sujatha in the 1998 parliamentary elections. CB Chandrababu, PP Chittaranjan and B Vinod were suspended. Later, in the CPM district conference held at Haripad, G. Sudhakaran defeated the official panel and captured the district committee. Soon this committee was disbanded and the state leadership appointed an ad hoc committee headed by MA Baby. Baby convinced both factions and held a district conference and handed it over to the new leadership. A member of the district secretariat, A Raghavan, was sacked before the district assembly following a complaint related to the appointment of a party-controlled school in Padanilam.

Most recently, SFI district leader and area secretary Nikhil Thomas getting admission to Kayamkulam MSM College by producing a fake certificate and the allegations leveled against CPM Kayamkulam area secretary C Aravindakshan had tarnished the party. At the same time, few leaders are worried that the infighting in the party could spill over into the upcoming parliamentary elections. Most of the victims of the act belong to backward and Dalit communities. They are also the vote bank of the party. However, most of the leaders feel that none of this will affect the election, rather it will only strengthen the party.

I am a disciplined party worker: Chittaranjan

MLA PP Chittaranjan, who was relegated to the CPM district committee, said that he is a disciplined party worker. He was responding to the media workers when he came to attend the party meeting at the CPM district committee office. Chittaranjan said that the party secretary will explain about the disciplinary action. Chittaranjan was demoted from the district secretariat to the district committee in connection with sectarian activities. M Satyapalan was also demoted. A Shanawas, accused in the drug trafficking case, was expelled from the party.