Thiruvananthapuram: The divisions within the ruling CPM, triggered by the Anthoor suicide, was visible in the party's recent state committee meeting too.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the meeting that the way party leader P Jayarajan publicly criticised Anthoor municipal chairperson P K Shyamala over the suicide of NRI businessman Sajen Parayil does not conform to the party's style of functioning.
At the meeting, Taliparamba MLA James Mathew hinted that Shayamala's husband and CPM central committee member M V Govindan was also behind the move not to provide permission to open the convention centre built by Sajen.
Kodiyeri's criticism was triggered by the fact that P Jayarajan had even hinted that there could be action against Shyamala at a public rally in Dharmashala. “A senior leader like Jayarajan shouldn't have spoken in such a way before the state committee met," Kodiyeri told the meeting.
“It is understood that the licence was denied despite Shyamala recommending the same. She doesn't have the authority to issue lincences. We can't take action saying that she didn't use the authority that she doesn't have," Kodiyeri told the meeting.
CPM Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan, who had said that Shyamala had expressed her willingness to resign at the rally, however, explained the issue in a different way at the state committee meeting. "Shyamala can't be seen as a person who creates problems," he said. He clarified that Shyamala would have no issues if the party wants to remove her from the position.
Kodiyeri targeted P Jayarajan in his criticism to show that the party leadership in Kannur is split over the incident. P Jayarajan stood by his statement but did not question the decision by the state leadership of the party.
In between, James Mathew disclosed that Govindan had contacted the private secretary of the then local self government minister K T Jaleel when a plea was submitted to the minister seeking to settle the licence issue.
In his reply, Govindan said that he was just informing the office of the minister when problems with the construction of the convention centre came to his notice. He also criticised the activities of PJ Army, a social media page run by P Jayarajan's followers, on the issue.
On the Sabarimala issue, allegations were raised against Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran. However, the minister did not deny the allegations that he spoke in support of the private member's bill moved by N K Premachandran. He said that he was trying to explain the fact that the Centre was trying to fool the devotees. The leadership said that the party is not in support of a legislation in this regard.
