Kannur (Keralam) | Independent MLA T K Govindan on Thursday alleged that the CPI(M) had yet to take corrective measures despite holding an extended state committee meeting to evaluate and address the issues that led to its defeat in the recent state assembly election.
Govindan, a former CPI(M) leader, was expelled from the party after he opposed the candidature of P K Shyamala, wife of party state secretary M V Govindan, in Thaliparamba here.
He later contested the election as a UDF-backed independent and won the seat.
Similarly, former CPI(M) leader V Kunhikrishnan, who had raised allegations of financial irregularities involving party leaders, was expelled from the party and later won the Payyannur seat as an independent.
Criticising the three-day extended state committee meeting recently held in Kozhikode, Govindan said the CPI(M) had not taken concrete steps to address the issues identified during the discussions.
"Even after this extended state committee meeting, what action was taken to address the faults identified by the party or the criticisms raised from the lower levels? That is what the party needs to examine," he said.
Govindan also questioned the outcome of the meeting, saying the party had claimed that one lakh people were mobilised.
"They mobilised one lakh people-they claim it was one lakh, and let it be so. The party has the capacity to mobilise that many, which is fine. But what is the output? After this committee meeting, were the criticisms raised within the party in Keralam resolved? That is what needs to be checked," he said.
He criticised the removal of T M Thomas Isaac and T P Ramakrishnan from the State Secretariat and questioned why similar action was not taken against others.
"Overall, two people were removed from the State Secretariat: Isaac and Ramakrishnan. How many such people are there in the Secretariat? Why were Isaac and Ramakrishnan removed while others were not," he asked.
Govindan also questioned the induction of P Jayarajan into the State Secretariat, saying it would not resolve the party's problems.
"What revolution is going to happen in this party by inducting Jayarajan into the State Secretariat for such a short period? What is the reason," he asked.
He also questioned the induction of V Sivankutty, attributing it to disputes within the party in Thiruvananthapuram district.
"If the three-day expanded state committee believes that bringing in these new inductees can save the party, I have nothing to offer them except my sympathy," he said.
Govindan further alleged that the recent action against the party state secretary vindicated the criticism he and Kunhikrishnan had raised.
There were reports that the CPI(M) extended state committee meeting censured state secretary M V Govindan over the party's performance in the assembly election across the state, especially in Kannur.
The independent MLA also hit out at CPI(M) leaders who had accused him of betraying the party and questioned whether the party's own leaders had instead compromised party interests.
He criticised the Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan for calling him a "class traitor" and alleged that party leaders had used the organisation for their personal interests.
"What betrayal have I committed against the party? You are the ones who betrayed the party. I say it is all of you who betrayed the party," he said.
Govindan also criticised the public meetings held by Vijayan and the CPI(M) district secretary in Thaliparamba and Payyannur, alleging they were aimed at attacking him and Kunhikrishnan rather than examining the party's issues.
He said the CPI(M) should identify its mistakes and correct them rather than try to convince the public that its organisational problems had been addressed.
"Where is self-criticism happening in this party? So, in reality, deceiving the general public and moving forward-I view this extended state committee meeting and the upcoming District and Area Committee meeting merely as an exercise for that," he said.
