Palakkad has the distinction of having hosted the state conference of the undivided Communist Party way back in 1956. The town also saw the CPI(M)’s State conference being held there in 1998. It was in that conference that the then all-powerful State secretary V S Achuthanandan masterminded the marginalization of a whole lot of leaders, including some CITU stalwarts, with the help of Pinarayi Vijayan.

Much water has flowed under the bridge since 1998. Fortunes of individual party leaders have fluctuated. Pinarayi Vijayan has emerged as the most powerful leader in the party having become its state secretary. His grip on the party has become total after the ‘clean chit’ from the CBI court in the SNC Lavalin case recently. And VS, who was a monarch of all that he surveyed in 1998, has been isolated in the party, although he continues to be hugely popular among the cadres and masses.

It is also not clear whether the plenum will see any discussion on the demand for removal of VS from the position of leader of the opposition, voiced by a section of leaders close to the official leadership of the Kerala CPI(M) headed by Vijayan.

The highlight of the plenum will be the discussion on a 150-page ‘rectification document’, which has identified a host of undesirable trends that have bedeviled the party over the years.

Heading the list is the attitude of party cadres towards women and women-related issues. The sexual misconduct charges against former district secretaries in Kannur and Ernakulam put the CPI(M) in a highly embarrassing situation. But to the credit of the the party, action was taken against the duo, with both being removed from the post of district secretaries, unlike its rival, the Congress, where several leaders accused of sexual misconduct, continue to be in positions of power. But the plenum will have to take note of the fact that women are not as active in party forums as they should be.

Among the other wrong trends putting the party in bad light are rising threat of alcoholism among the cadres and the non-proletarian life styles of leaders at different levels. Another grave matter of concern for the party is that its cadres have also been ‘infected’ by the virus of patriarchal mentality dominating the society.

The rectification document, which voices its concern at the growing lack of commitment to ideology, also lays great accent on the need to strengthen the ideological moorings of the party, The disturbing trend among the party workers to believe in superstitions, against which the Communist movement has fought tooth and nail, is also a matter which the leadership will have to address urgently.

Among the central leaders, who are expected to attend the plenum are party general secretary, Prakash Karat, Politburo members, S Ramachandran Pillai and Sitaram Yechury. It remains to be seen whether other members of the PB Commission, which was set up to probe organizational matters of the Kerala unit of the party will be able to participate in the plenum as they are busy because of the assembly elections in various states.

A significant aspect of the plenum will be the participation of State Finance Minister and Kerala Congress(M) president, K M Mani as a special invitee. The participation of Mani, who is expected to present a paper on alternative economic model at the plenum, has touched off speculation that he could cross over to the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in view of the severe strain in the relations between the KC(M), a major constituent of the ruling United Democratic Front, and Congress which heads the UDF. Asked whether his participation in the plenum is the precursor to the emergence of a new political alliance in the state, Mani made a pithy comment: there is no point in writing the horoscope of a child yet to be born!

Because the plenum is being held in Palakkad, the LDF has deferred its planned agitation on November 26 against the Centre and the Railway Ministry in protest against the delay in the coach factory at Kanjikode, which falls in Palakkad district.(IPA Service)