Party has every right to oust me: S Rajendran

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Devikulam MLA S Rajendran is set to face disciplinary action from his party, the CPM. A day after its Idukki district committee recommended his expulsion for a year from the party, Rajendran said the party has every right to oust him.

"But the news that I have not replied to the show cause notice served to me is false. I have the courier slip with me. I have been with the party for the last four decades and they have every right to oust me," said a peeved Rajendran.

"Some people decided to expel me earlier itself. MM Mani publicly advised me to sit at home in the remaining lifetime by looking after my parents. It is clear from the words of Mani and other leaders that the disciplinary action against me is a foregone conclusion," he added.

"I have not decided anything about my future and currently have no plans to join any other party. I have not got any intimation from my party. First let it come," Rajendran said.

Early this week, the Idukki district committee submitted its recommendations to oust Rajendran for a year from the party but the final decision rests with the party state committee.

However, more details of Rajendran's fate will be made public when the Idukki district party has its meeting next week to elect a new set of office-bearers for the next three years.

Rajendran has been one of the tallest CPM leaders in Idukki district and represented the Devikulam Assembly constituency for three terms from 2006 onwards.

He was deeply upset when the party rejected his request to contest the April 6 Assembly polls for the fourth time.

The allegation against him was that he tried to defeat the party's Devikulam A candidate A Raja in the state polls held last April. The two-member inquiry commission appointed by the party found Rajendran guilty of indulging in anti-party activities during Assembly polls.

It was alleged that Rajendran kept away from the campaigning deliberately and was not sincere in election work. Other serious allegations are that he attempted to divide party votes and tried to defeat Raja through racial segregation in the constituency.

Rajendran's open defiance came early this month, when he skipped several party meetings in his district.

Incidentally, Idukki district is the stronghold of the CPM where the mainstay of the party is the thousands of estate workers, as this area is dominated by cardamom and tea plantations and the party is divided between Rajendran and former State Power Minister M M Mani, presently a legislator.

During the party meetings held early this month Mani slammed Rajendran for his absence and went to the extent of threatening him with expulsion from the party.

"Rajendran was made a legislator for three terms (Devikulam Assembly constituency) besides he had a term as the president of the Idukki district panchayat. What more should our party give. He should have attended this meeting and the various other meetings which are part of the party regime," said Mani then.

Despite Rajendran hailing from the Scheduled Caste community, the state committee of the CPM is likely to ratify the Idukki district committee's decision to boot out Rajendran.

Others facing action

The CPM is also planning to take action against Munnar area committee members S Stalin, V Mariappan, A Rajan, who are facing similar allegations. It is learnt that former area committee member V Vijayakumar has already been suspended from the party for one year.

Party punishments

The most severe punishment in CPM is expulsion from the party. The second level of punishment is suspension for a maximum period of one year, which is now being contemplated against Rajendran.

Other punishments in the order of severity are: removing a party member from all party posts, public censure, censure and warning.