In what is seen as a major political development, CPI(M) strongman Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was removed from the post of Secretary of the Kerala unit of the party. M V Govindan (69), the Minister for Local self Government, was appointed as the new secretary of the CPI(M). Both Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Govindan, hail from Kannur and are contemporaries.
Balakrishnan, who has been the secretary of the Kerala CPI(M) since 2015 had led the party to victory in the 2016 and 2021 assembly election. According to sources in the CPI(M), Balakrishnan, known for his organizational prowess, is suffering from a serious ailment and not in a position to attend to the daily chores of the party. Balakrishnan is being flown from Thiruvananthapuram to a corporate hospital in Chennai on Monday for further treatment.
Though he had been to the USA twice in the past for advanced treatment, he is yet to recover from the ailment and is in need of continuous medical attention. The decision to replace Balakrishnan with Govindan was taken in the State Committee of the CPI(M) which met at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. The two-day meeting is attended among others by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, former party secretary Prakash Karat, polit bureau members M A Baby, A Vijayaraghavan and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The meeting would continue on Monday also. It was announced by E P Jayarajan, convenor of the LDF, that Govindan, on his elevation as party secretary would resign from the council of ministers. There will be a reshuffle of the cabinet as two ministers have quit from the council of ministers,” said Jayarajan.
Saji Cherian, the minister for culture, belonging to the CPI(M) had to step down from the council of ministers following his controversial speech at Pathanamthitta in which he spoke ill of the Indian Constitution as an instrument for cheating the people.