CPM-RMP tiff unabated in Onchiyam

Kozhikode: The turf war in Onchiyam between Revolutionary Socialist Party (RMP) founded by the late CPM-rebel TP Chandrasekharan and the parent party is continuing with no recess. Even before the murder of TP on May 4, 2012, the two had been working hard to establish their domination in the area. The CPI (M) was doing everything to check the drain of its into RMP since its launch in 2009, which ultimately ended up in the brutal killing three years later. Giving a shocker to CPM, even living legends of Onchiyam revolt had crossed over to RMP. Though RMP had become a national party with the name Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) in 2016, merging with many fringe Communist groups, its survival in Onchiyam is a big question.

RMPI leader K.K. Rema said the party founded by her slain husband would not bow to the arrogance of CPM. “Now Pinarayi Vijayan is in power, but he is very much disturbed by the fact that TP is still a dominant force here,” she told DC. "That is why his party men destroyed more than 200 flex boards with the face of TP erected in the region in connection with the 5th anniversary of his martyrdom. They destroyed two local committee offices and attacked two workers brutally.  One of them is in the hospital with two legs broken.” Though Ms Rema expresses her fighting spirit, she knows better than all others that things are not rosy for RMP in its birthplace.      

She feels the CPM wants to erase whatever remnants that remind TP. The TP memorial at Vallikkad where TP was hacked down also was attacked recently. Strict orders were given to party men to boycott marriages, death and other social events of RMP families. "Our youngsters are not even getting brides and bridegrooms just because we believe in a political ideology against the CPM," said an RMP worker. But CPM pooh-poohs the allegations. CPM district secretary P. Mohanan said for CPM, RMP is a small rebel group restricted to a panchayat. "They exist with the support of our foes," he said. “RMP is not at all a concern for CPM. We have no time to spare for such tiny elements.”