After devastating the party in Onchiyam in Kozhikode, Shoranur in Palakkad and Thalikkulam in Thrissur, rebel trouble in the Kerala CPI(M) has now extended to Kannur district, described as the party’s fortress in the State. Interestingly, the places where rebel trouble has raised its hood are the strongest pockets of the party in entire Kerala.
The rebellion in such advanced stage that rebels from various places in Kannur, home district of the State CPI(M) secretary, two Politburo members and several party heavyweights, are currently in the process of constituting a forum by bringing under one umbrella all those who had left the party in recent times and keeping away from it for ideological differences.
The rebels had held a meeting in Kannur the other day, something unimaginable in the district till recently, to discuss the practical steps to be taken for setting up such a forum. The meeting gave shape to a campaign committee to coordinate the efforts in this direction.
One of the surprising aspects of the meeting was that the rebels who participated in it were mainly from the CPI(M) strongholds like Koothuparambu, Thalassery, Mattannur, Karivellur, Payyannur and Ancharakkandi. Moreover, four of the participants were office-bearers of the party, as per reports from Kannur.
“We know that some people have been trying to set up a district unit of the RMP (Revolutionary Marxist Party). But we are not worried about it,” said a senior CPI(M) leader from Kannur. The RMP was floated by CPI(M) rebels in Onchiyam, Kozhikode in 2008 after leaving the party due to ideological differences and in protest against the policies of the leadership.
Cracks within the CPI(M) in Kannur widened after the brutal murder of RMP leader TP Chandrasekharan on May 4, 2012 allegedly by a Marxist killer gang under instructions from the top leadership. Several party workers and functionaries from Kannur had openly defied the leadership’s orders to participate in meetings held in memory of the RMP leader.
The recent rebels’ meeting in which office-bearers of several pro-CPI(M) service organisations had taken part passed a resolution calling for a new people’s forum with ideological foundations as the party had transformed itself into a carnival organisation, abandoning communist values. However, those expelled from the CPI(M) for corruption would have no place in the forum.
CPI(M)-watchers say that the top leadership of the party will not be able to neglect the developments as the Kannur unit is the party’s strongest district unit in the entire country both in terms of cadre strength and discipline. “If such rebellion can take place in Kannur, it will be very easy in the other district units in the State,” said a pro-CPI(M) journalist.
The rebels’ campaign committee, however, has not taken any decision to become part of the RMP but they will cooperate with that organisation in all matters, especially in opposing the “fascist policies and methods” of the CPI(M) leadership. The committee has also decided to hold a convention in Kannur.
Rebellion in the Kerala CPI(M) started in a big way in 2008 after the neo-liberalist leadership led by State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan established its total control over the party by defeating the traditionalists’ faction led by central committee member (then a PB member) VS Achuthanandan at the State conference of the party held in Kottayam.
The first signs of rebellion had come from Onchiyam where rebels led by TP Chandrasekharan launched the RMP and Shoranur in Palakkad district where local leader MR Murali floated the People’ Development Council. The party faced rebel trouble in other places like Thalikkulam in Thrissur district as well.