Alappuzha: CPI State Secretary, Kanam Rajendran, is facing tough opposition from his own party men after he failed to criticize the the Kerala police for brutally attacking party members including an MLA of the party.
Kanam Rajendran took a soft position and even did not utter a word against the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, who handles the home ministry portfolio. Kanam’s silence is seen as a betrayal by many of his own party members.
Posters critical of Kanam Rajendran appeared in some places and three CPI activists were dismissed from the party for this actions.
Kanam was harshly criticized today during a meeting of the Alappuzha District Executive. They blamed Kanam Rajendran for not standing with the party cadres after the lathi charge. The district leaders also said that the posters were put out because the cadres felt betrayed.
The CPI leaders said that Kanam should have stood in solidarity with the Ernakulam District President and the MLA during the issue. The MLA who was injured had criticized the CPI(M) led government harshly for the police brutality.
The leaders said that Kanam’s justification of the police was made without taking the sentiments of the ordinary cadres. They also observed that taking action against the party cadres who put up posters was unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the party has constituted a 3-member commission to look if infighting inside CPI had led to the poster issue. The commission is instructed to deliver its report in a month. Party leaders say that infighting of different groups has grown into a cancer and has hurt the communist party.
