THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the party state secretariat is set to discuss the allegations levelled by MLA PV Anvar against Chief Minister's Political Secretary P Sasi and ADGP MR Ajith Kumar today, there is also an uproar in the branch meetings against lapses in the party and governance. The indications are that this is the beginning of an infight within the party, and there may be a strong reflection of this in the subsequent meetings. These undercurrents may lead to a strong tide in the party.

In the branch meetings, intense anger rose in the party ranks over the farce of the investigation, keeping ADGP Ajith Kumar in charge of law and order, and the government's stance of not touching P Sasi, who is considered to have insulted the party and the government.

In order to protect Sasi and Ajith Kumar, the government had to limit even the action against Pathanamthitta ex-SP Sujith Das, who was accused of smuggling gold from Karipur, to a suspension. This too drew severe criticism. While the party state secretariat is to meet today to decide on an inquiry into the allegations, the suspension of SP Sujith Das from service yesterday is being interpreted as evidence of the loosening grip of the CM and P Sasi.

No protection for Chief Minister

As Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's supremacy in the party and administration is challenged, senior party leaders and ministers are playing the role of spectators. Among the ministers, V Sivankutty was the only one who defended the inquiry announced by the Chief Minister. On the other hand, state Secretary MV Govindan, who is deeply resentful, is not even ready to respond. The main criticism raised in the party branch meetings is that the Chief Minister cannot control his own office and the Home Department and that there is a parallel administration in the police by P Sasi and ADGP Ajith Kumar. Leaders participating in these meetings from the higher committees are also unable to answer. The party leadership was baffled by the suspension of the branch meeting in Morazha, party state secretary MV Govindan's constituency, as members stayed away en masse. The concern is that Morazha will be repeated in the subsequent meetings.