Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM remained mum on the Lokayukta ordinance at the meeting with CPI held after the Cabinet discussed the matter.

A CPM-CPI meeting was held at the AKG Centre on January 14 ahead of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s visit to the US. It was in this backdrop that CPI state secretary came out against the Lokayukta ordinance stating that political discussions had not taken place on the matter.

The Lokayukta amendment was discussed initially by the Cabinet at its meeting held on January 11. The issue came up again for discussion at the Cabinet meeting held on January 19.

The CPM was mum on the ordinance at the bilateral meeting held between the two Cabinet meetings, on January 14.

Kodiyeri likely to meet Kanam

The failure of the CPM leadership to brief its CPI counterparts about the need for immediately considering the ordinance in connection with the Lokayukta has led to current differences between the two parties on the issue.

The overwhelming sentiment in the CPI is that since the CPM failed to take the party leadership into confidence on the issue, the criticism against the ordinance is quite natural.

The big question that still begs an answer within the party fora is whether the CPI ministers in the Cabinet were able to point out to its state leadership about the gravity of the Lokayukta ordinance.

However, the CPI ministers have informed the party leadership that the Cabinet meeting was held online and hence there were limitations in openly expressing dissent.

The CPM leadership has made it clear that in the wake of CPI's open stand against the ordinance, efforts will be made to bring it on board. Kodiyeri and Kanam are likely to discuss the issue. However, the date of the meeting has not been finalised yet.