Kannur (Kerala) | The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Tuesday expelled party veteran T K Govindan, a day after he announced severing ties with the organisation and declared his intent to contest as an independent candidate from the Marxist stronghold of Taliparamba.
Govindan had announced his decision to enter the fray as a rebel candidate in protest against the party's decision to field state secretary M V Govindan's wife, P K Shyamala, in the constituency.
Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh said Govindan was expelled from the party for indulging in "anti-party activities" and showing "political betrayal" by allegedly colluding with rivals.
Responding to allegations raised by the expelled leader, Ragesh said Shyamala's candidature was a collective party decision and not based on kinship.
He added that spouses and relatives of leaders have previously been fielded as candidates and that organisational work and experience were key considerations in her selection.
"P K Shyamala has extensive organisational experience,' Ragesh said.
Launching a sharp attack on the veteran leader, he alleged that T K Govindan was driven by "parliamentary ambitions".
The CPI(M) district leadership also alleged that Govindan could no longer be considered a communist and accused him of acting as a "tool" of the opposition Congress-led UDF.
Senior CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan, who was also present in the press meet, rejected allegations raised by the veteran leader in connection with the recent "Happiness Fest" organised by the party here.
He said details of the 'Happiness Fest' had been presented before the party and described it as a successful and prestigious programme.
He also rubbished the allegations raised by T K Govindan against Shyamala in connection with the suicide of expatriate businessman Sajan, a native of Anthoor here.
Shyamala had no role in the incident, and a detailed probe was conducted in connection with his death, Jayarajan said, claiming that the government had in fact extended all support to the entrepreneur's venture.
A member of the Marxist party's Kannur district secretariat and a serving chairman of state-run Handveev, T K Govindan, had played a crucial role in strengthening the party in the district, which is regarded as a fortress of the CPI(M).
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the veteran had said he was ending his nearly six-decade-long association with the party as a mark of protest against Shyamala's candidature.
According to him, seniority and other factors were ignored while selecting the candidate. The party's decision "does not conform to political ethics".
He described the candidate selection process in Taliparamba as one that went against organisational norms.
"What happened in Taliparamba is an injustice. It was against the party's ethics and organisational norms," he had alleged.
Alleging that grave injustice was taking place in the Left party, he wanted to know how Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was supporting it.
Govindan had also expressed his willingness to accept support from the opposition UDF, but made it clear that he would not accept any backing from communal forces.
As the April 9 election is just weeks away, the development has put the CPI(M) leadership on the defensive in the district.