Southern States
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Kerala
CPI(M) cadres make an open criticism of leadership
By A. Harikumar
ALAPPUZHA, DEC. 5. The recently concluded branch and local conventions of the CPI(M) in Alappuzha district are learnt to have been marked by open discussions, to an extent unknown before, featuring intense self-criticism.
Party cadres in the district indicate a consensus emerging among them against certain trends which had surfaced in the party leading to its degeneration. It is learnt that at the meetings, party members have been vehement in their criticism against corrupt elements in the CPI(M), sectarian activities, influence of casteist and religious forces among sections of the leadership, weakness of the leadership and the flamboyant life style of certain leaders.
A section of the cadres feels that though the degeneration had been visible in almost all districts,it was most conspicuous in Alappuzha. In the new churning up process, it seems that old loyalties no more hold good here. Certain partymen called it a rejuvenating process above all narrow groupings. If the present trend was any indication, it seems that the present district leadership may find itself in a precarious situation in the coming days.
It is learnt that in their criticism, the cadres did not even spare the top leadership of the party. At certain meetings in Ambalappuzha, the activities of a politburo member from the area have come under severe criticism. Some of the cadres even went to the extent of remarking that the leader's ideological sense was low unlike leaders of the past like R. Sugatan and C.H. Kanaran.
The meetings concluded that the failure of the leadership to convince the public about the welfare activities of the LDF Government was one of the reasons that led to the failure of the party in the last Assembly election. It is learnt that the performance of the former Finance Minister, Mr. T. Sivadasa Menon, came under intense criticism at the party meetings.
Reports indicate that the meetings also found that the relationship of the LDF with the Indian National League (INL) at times had created confusion among the public and partymen. The party members said the performance of certain leaders in the district was marked by lack of proper awareness of Marxist ideology.
It is learnt that at the meetings the cadres expressed strong resent at the way a section of senior leaders was avoided from the district committee last time. Though a few among them were coopted into the committee later, many were still left out. The cadres had pointed out that some of the senior leaders had died following shock from the harsh treatment of the present leadership.
The flamboyant life style of certain leaders in the district secretariat is also learnt to have come under severe criticism. It had been pointed out that very few of the present leadership travel by bus. With no known sources of income, it had been alleged that they might have accepted the assistance of corrupt elements at times.
There had been allegations that a leader of the Chethutozhilali union had been a regular visitor at a massage parlour at Chengannur in the past few months.
In the elections to various local committees, persons loyal to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, had been defeated. At local committees like Muthukulam persons sidelined by the present leadership had been elected local committee secretaries. Going by the present pattern, it is interpreted that the days of ruthless elimination of any section from the CPI (M) are over in the district.
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