CPI executive panel split over CM’s style

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI state executive meeting here on Thursday witnessed heated arguments over the chief minister’s style of functioning.
The meeting was convened to review the performance of LDF in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. LDF won only one of the 20 seats in Kerala.
Party sources said the report by CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran was generic in nature, saying the confusion among voters and misinformation campaign by rivals had resulted in the rout.
The CPI leader also reported that the failure in propagating LDF’s achievements had contributed to the debacle.
During the debate that followed, several leaders questioned the report. A few leaders challenged the style of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and suggested that the Sabarimala issue had alienated Hindu voters. Some leaders also blamed CPM’s misdeeds for which CPI had to suffer at the hustings.
Assistant secretary K Prakash Babu demanded an amendment to the report by criticising Vijayan’s style. It was learnt that he told the executive that the chief minister’s arrogance and assertiveness alienate scores of voters from the party. He said people generally liked leaders with a democratic style of functioning.
Rajendran opposed Babu, terming his arguments immature. He asked the leaders not to change their perspective based on media reports. He said it was not possible for a leader to change the style he has been following for 50 years, and raising such a demand was absurd.
Rajendran said a leader should be judged by his acts and mannerisms. He even cited the example of VS Achuthanandan—how he had been criticised initially before he became the media’s darling.
After Rajendran’s explanation, the executive accepted his report and rejected Babu’s suggestions. The report will be presented before the state council meeting slated for Friday.