Factionalism cloud over CPM meet

Amidst the war of nerves in its Kerala unit, the CPI(M)’s 18th state meet is set to unfurl at this Muslim heartland tomorrow. A host of...

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Amidst the war of nerves in its Kerala unit, the CPI(M)’s 18th state meet is set to unfurl at this Muslim heartland tomorrow. A host of central leaders of the party, including general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Politburo members Prakash Karat and S. Ramachandran Pillai, have arrived here for the meet.

With the veneer of unity that shrouded the factional infighting falling apart, it is uncertainty and confusion that pervade the 500-odd party delegates, who have started reaching the district headquarters to attend the four-day meet. ‘‘Will it be a re-enactment of the Palakkad state meet, which had witnessed blood and gore?,’’ is the worry they share with their trusted comrades. The fact that the state meet is being opened immediately after the open war call of party Politburo member V.S. Achuthanandan and the fitting reply by belligerent party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan adds to their dilemma.

With both the factions in no mood for a consensus, the differences of opinion are likely to crop up right from the beginning, when the party state secretariat and the party state committee finalise the agenda.

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Though the organisational report deals with topics ranging from imperialism to the need of strengthening the secular fabric of the state, the major point of discussion will be aimed at weeding out the targeted members of the rival groups. The selected delegates of both the camps will reach the meeting venue with the copies of this ‘‘badal’’ (alternative) document supplied by their respective factional leaders, it is learnt.

While the Achuthanandan camp has chalked out its strategies at an undisclosed place, the rival faction had its brainstorming session in Malappuram on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the organising committee of the state meet is making all efforts to put up a facade of unity, and a few seasoned party leaders are confident of making the meet a hassle-free affair.