CPM dissidents to join CPI; rift in Ernakulam left fort

Kochi: The relationship between the CPM and the CPI is set to worsen in Ernakulam in the coming days as more than 2000 CPM dissidents from Udayamperoor and Mulanthuruthy  have decided to join the CPI.   Party  state secretary Kanam Rajendran will inaugurate a meeting  at Nadakkavu near Mulanthuruthy on July 25, when the dissidents will switch over sides.  

“Over  500 active party members, their families and thousands of party followers, who are upset over the internal feud within the party,  will join the CPI. The party district leadership is not interested in resolving the squabbles in the party through dialogues. The leadership wants to keep the  issues live and oust us,” said  Mr T. Raghuvaran, leader of the dissidents.

They  announced the decision to join the CPI during a press conference held at Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday. Mr  Raghuvaran,  expelled local committee secretary,  said a section of district leaders supported  the short-sighted decisions taken by local committees and was  trying to silence those who raise their voice against the organizational issues. “They are also trying to insult us through character assassination,” he alleged.

Mr Raghuvaran  has formed a parallel organisation ‘Krishna Pillai Samskarika Vedi’ which has  mass base in many areas in Tripunithura. During the Assembly elections, the dissidents had  made it clear that they were not against the party or its state leadership, but opposed the  vested interests of the local leaders.

The dissidents also campaigned for party candidate M. Swaraj in Tripunithura. However, the CPM district and area committee leaders are upset over the move and announced that they would not share the dais with the outgoing workers. The official decision to be taken by the CPM district leadership on the matter will be crucial.