Discord within CPM out in public; Powerful Kannur camaraderie on verge of split?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vizhinjam share transfer controversy shook CPM after EP Jayarajan openly contradicted Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan and Party State Secretary MV Govindan's stance, attacking the V.D. Satheesan government. Jayarajan's comments raised eyebrows in the party leadership, much to the joy of the state government.

Jayarajan and Pinarayi were the two impregnable forces in the party until the elections. After the elections, this situation changed, and their positions came under criticism. This was evident when the party's central committee member publicly rejected an issue raised by Politburo members Pinarayi Vijayan and M.V. Govindan. This brought out the different views within the party on the Vizhijam issue.

It should be noted that Pinarayi Vijayan never even once turned against Jayarajan despite the latter getting tangled in a series of controversies, which even included financial irregularities. Pinarayi had even rejected CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby, who indirectly criticised the nomination of M.V. Govindan's wife, P.K. Shyamala, but not Jayarajan. Political observers are eagerly waiting to see how Pinarayi will respond to E.P. Jayarajan’s comments on Vizhinjam. Will this be the end of the decade-long camaraderie?

Jayarajan is at the forefront demanding M.V. Govindan’s removal from the post of party secretary. M.V. Govindan made a serious allegation the other day, linking V.D. Satheesan's Mangalore trip with the Vizhinjam share transfer. E.P. Jayarajan refuted all these allegations in the response.

“The party has a history of accepting those who formerly committed wrong. Even those who had defected to the Naxal movement have returned to the CPM. The party will accept the realities at every stage,” E.P. Jayarajan told the media.

M.V. Govindan had stated the other day that the MLAs who contested against the party as rebels are 'class traitors' and that there is no basis for hope that they will return to the party.