As a CPI leader aptly put it, it was a robust reassertion of the famous ‘Chandrappan Line’, the cornerstone of which is equality of all partners in the Left Democratic Front(LDF).

The organizational report, presented to the conference did not shy away from strongly criticizing the State CPI(M) leadership’s proclivity to take unilateral decisions without consulting the allies in the LDF.

The report squarely blamed the ‘arrogance’ of the CPI(M) for the exit from the LDF of the Janata Dal(Secular) and later the Revolutionary Socialist Party(RSP), which caused a setback for the Front in the Lok Sabha elections. Without directly naming Pinarayi Vijayan, the report said it was a tactless and derogatory remark made by a CPI(M) leader against RSP candidate, N. K. Premachandran which caused the defeat of the LDF candidates in at least three LS seats: Kollam, Mavelikkara and Alappuzha.

The report dwelt on the controversy over the selection of candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat and the correctives applied by the party. The CPI’s strong opposition forced the CPI(M) to give up the move to win over the KC(M) from the UDF. That the CPI stand was correct has been proved by the storm in which KC(M) chief and Finance Minister K M Mani finds himself over the ongoing bar bribery scam.

No party in the LDF is a master; and the CPI(M) should not treat its allies as servants, the report said, adding that there should be honest introspection on the exit of the JD(S) and the RSP from the LDF and joining the UDF. Efforts should be made to bring both the parties back into the LDF so that the LDF regains its original strength, the report stressed.

CPI State secretary, Pannyan Ravindran’s speech after presenting the report to the delegates session, was also marked by strong criticism of the state CPI(M) leadership’s haughty behavior towards the allies. Ravindran also alluded to the withdrawal of the agitation against the solar scam. Its abrupt ending had created great confusion among the rank and file of both the CPI(M) and the people at large, Pannyan said, adding that the perception was that the agitation was called off as part of an ‘adjustment’ with the Congress-led UDF Government. The tame denouement had badly dented the credibility of the LDF, he pointed out.

Though the report was sharply critical of the CPI(M), the conference did not lose focus on the important task ahead: the need to strengthen the left and frustrate the determined efforts of communal forces to encroach on ‘the left space’.

In his speech after inaugurating the conference, CPI general secretary, S. Sudhakar Reddy underlined the need to expand the unity of the left parties and unleash united struggles against forces out to destroy the country’s secular character. Making a pointed reference to the BJP government’s attempt to ‘dilute’ the Land Acquisition Act, Reddy said this was an unabashed attempt to protect the corporate houses which had funded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rallies during the Lok Sabha elections.

Significantly, the CPI’s organizational report had a striking similarity to the letter which CPI(M) stalwart V. S. Achuthanandan dashed off to the party’s Politburo. VS’s letter was also critical of Pinarayi Vijayan’s failure to prevent the exit of parties like the JD(S) and the RSP, among other things.

The point to be noted is that, unlike their frosty ties with former state CPI(M) secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, the CPI leadership has always enjoyed extremely cordial ties with VS. In fact, in his speech, Pannyan Ravindran made a highly significant observation: that VS will lead the agitation to prevent Finance Minister K. M. Mani from presenting the State budget in March in the State Assembly and outside!

Now that Pinarayi has demitted office, the CPI leaders expect the ‘restoration of normalcy’ in the relations with the CPI(M). The takeover as the new state CPI(M) secretary by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan would, hopefully, see a turn for the better in CPI-CPI(M) ties, they hope. A plus factor in this regard, they say, is the peasant persona of Kodiyeri and his ability to reach out to other parties, unlike the abrasive style of functioning of his prickly predecessor.

The last day of the conference will see the election of the new state CPI secretary. AITUC’s state president, Kanam Rajendran is regarded as the front-runner for the top post although assistant secretary K. E. Ismail is also in the race. Kanam, a leader averse to a soft approach to the CPI(M), is said to enjoy overwhelming support from districts like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. Ismal, who had kept a low profile during the tenure of CK Chandrappan as the state party secretary, is said to have the support of senior leaders like C. Divakaran and V. S. Sunil Kumar, MLA. True, Pannyan Ravindran has expressed his desire to step down, but general secretary Sudhakar Reddy has refused to rule out the possibility of Ravindran remaining the secretary in case the conference fails to evolve a consensus on the new secretary. (IPA Service)