Factional fights within CPM are taking a new turn in Alappuzha. Violent street fights occurred on February 12 among CPM cadres in Kuttanadu, Alappuzha.
Ramankari DYFI Zonal Secretary Renjith and Local Committee Secretary Saravanan are injured and hospitalised. They were attacked by cadres belonging to another faction of the party. Three other workers are injured too. Five party workers are arrested in this connection. Reports suggest that the injured belong to the official faction of CPM. The faction of the injured alleges that the opposing group has given a “quotation” to an ‘action team’ to attack them.
Renjith and Saravanan were attacked when they went to attend a marriage function. Iron rods and stones were used to attack them. Police say an ‘opponent’ is attacked too, and he hides.
It is to be noted that internal bickering has been taking place in Alappuzha for the last few months. More than 300 party cadres have reportedly resigned from the party during the last few days.
Since the last few months, reports of serious infights in CPM have been reported from Alappuzha. The matter turned serious when A Shanavas, Alappuzha Municipal Councillor and CPM Area Committee member, was seen in the eye of the political storm when some lorries were seized by the police while smuggling in banned tobacco products in Karunagappalli, Kollam District. One of the lorries was under Shanavas’ ownership. But, he claimed that he had leased out the lorry to somebody, hence not responsible for smuggling the banned products.
Saji Cheiryan, Minister in the Pinarayi Cabinet and former Alappuzha District secretary of CPM took a stand in favour of Shanavaz while another faction demanded Shanavas’s expulsion from the party. And, Shanavaz has been suspended from the party in this regard.
The above incident has triggered worse factionalism in the CPM party in the Alappuzha District.
On top of the above-mentioned factional issues, former Minister and senior CPM leader G Sudhakaran has been side-lined in the party apparatus, and his occasional comments also create troubles in the already ‘divided house’.
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