Thiruvananthapuram| The CPI on Thursday alleged political motives behind the cancellation of a special train booked to take its workers from Kerala to New Delhi for a protest march, and said its cadres would reach the capital by other means.

The Kerala CPI had booked a 20-coach special train from Kochuveli to Delhi on August 29 as part of its 'Delhi Chalo, Badlaav Zaroori Hai' (Change is Inevitable) campaign to be held on September 1. The train was scheduled to return on September 2.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam told a press conference that IRCTC had recently informed the party that the special train had been cancelled.

He said the party had paid Rs 10 lakh as an advance for the booking, which was later refunded.

"While steps were being taken to transfer the money to the bank, we received a notice yesterday stating that the government and the Railways had cancelled the special train," Viswam said.

He alleged that the cancellation was politically motivated and aimed at preventing people from participating in the protest march.

"From our perspective, the government is attempting to defeat the people. When people express their willingness to hold a march to speak about their issues, the government is trying to block them through this route," he alleged.

He said the cancellation would not affect the party's plans to participate in the Delhi march.

"Our decision is to move forward, not step back. Communist Party comrades from Kerala will reach Delhi through every possible route," Viswam said.

He said party workers would travel by regular trains and buses and, if necessary, by flights by pooling money.

"Party units across all districts are actively involved in this effort. The enthusiasm and determination shown by comrades across all districts since this morning is worth mentioning," he said.

Viswam said the CPI would hold protest marches at major railway stations in all districts on Friday evening against the cancellation.

Demonstrations would be held at major centres in Wayanad and Idukki, where there are no railway lines, he added.

He said the Delhi march would be held on September 1 and claimed that the cancellation could even boost participation.

"Perhaps, as a result of this opposition, it wouldn't be surprising if the numbers end up being even higher," he said.

Viswam claimed that similar special trains booked by CPI units in Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had been cancelled and their advance amounts refunded.