THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI have banned contesting in party conferences. A directive has been issued that there should be no race against the official panel. It also warned that if there is a contest, the conference itself will be suspended. This is made clear in the circular issued by the central leadership to the district units.

Voting for the central committee was held in Madurai yesterday in the CPM Central Committee elections. Representatives from UP and Maharashtra demanded voting. The voting held in the CPM Central Committee elections was considered an unusual move.

D L Karad demanded voting from Maharashtra. Karad demanded voting citing the need for more representation for those working at the grassroots level. Karad, who contested for the central committee, was defeated. Karad got 31 votes. Karad is the Maharashtra State President of CITU and All India Vice President of CITU.

Karad's response was that the central committee panel did not consider strengthening the party in Maharashtra and that is why he contested. Following this, the CPI issued a circular banning contesting in the conferences. 19 Malayalees were elected to the 85-member central committee panel of the CPM. 30 new faces were also elected. There are 15 women. Seven will act as special invitees.