Kanam, who was elected secretary in the previous state conference held in Kottayam, has a clear domination in the organisation.Malappuram: Kanam Rajendran was re-elected the Kerala state secretary of the Communist Part of India's (CPI) for a second term. Kanam was elected unopposed with another senior leader C Divakaran opting out of a contest, despite pressure from the K E Ismail faction.
Divakaran chose to avoid a competition citing the need to show a face of unity at a time when the Left parties were facing severe challenge all over the country. The CPI state council was reconstituted at the party state conference which will come to a close here today.
The national leadership had initiated mediation efforts to avoid a contest.
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There were reports that the faction led by K E Ismail, an assistant secretary of the party, wanted competition for the post of secretary in order to ensure that Kanam does not get elected unanimously. The Ismail faction was annoyed after allegations against them came out through the report submitted by a party-appointed control commission. They believe that the findings in the probe report were included in the party's report tabled in the state meet as part of Kanam's agenda to keep them away from the power circles.
State council rejig
The party's state council was reconstituted with omitting and inducting a few leaders.
Vazhoor Soman, a senior leader from Idukki and a Kanam loyalist, is among those who have been dropped from the incumbent council. He was excluded from the panel following some allegations, it is learnt.
A P Achuthan, a top leader of the Ismail faction, has also been dropped. Another Isamil loyalist Easwari Resan, a tribal leader from Palakkad, also lost her place in the state council. She was ousted through election, it is learnt.
Control commission chairman Veliyam Rajan and secretary A K Chandran have also been moved from their posts. E S Bijimol, who was demoted to the district council earlier, returned to the state top panel.
The reconstitution and re-election are likely to cement Kanam's position as the CPI strongman in Kerala especially at a time when he has been successfully playing the critical insider in the CPM-led Let democratic Front.
Kanam, who was elected secretary in the previous state conference held in Kottayam, has a clear domination in the organisation.
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