New controversy raises eyebrows of CPM leadership in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA:

Cherthala is bastion of CPM

. However, the groupism here took its toll on the party many times and witnessed many open fights in the streets between comrades in the name of groupism. The old Mararikulam assembly constituency had witnessed the shocking defeat of

former chief minister V S Achuthanandan

in 1996 assembly polls due to factionalism. The new controversy in the CPM in connection with attack of

P Krishna Pillai

memorial has become new headache for the party.


CPM Kanjikuzhy area committee on Monday sacked CPM Kannarkadu branch member C R Shibu Chellikandathil for speaking against party. Shibu the other day told media that CPM was trying to protect the accused, who attacked P Krishna Pillai memorial at Kannarkadu near Kanjikuzhy. He, who is the witness in the case, told media that regional leaders of the party had approached him, with a request to change his testimony. He also said that some of the witnesses in the case have already changed their testimonies due to frequent pressure. It forced the CPM to terminate him from the CPM branch membership on Monday.

However, the CPM party leadership considered that the new allegations in connection with the attack of the memorial are taking heavy toll on the party. The CPM is hoping that the new controversy will end with the sacking of Shibu.

Kanjikuzhy area committee secretary S Radhakrishnan said that though they have conducted a probe following the statements of Shibu, they found that his allegations are baseless. "We found nothing true in his statements. So we have ended our inquiry. All the units of the party strongly and unanimously demanded action against him. So he was expelled from the party," he said.

The P Krishna Pillai memorial was found burned partially in the wee hours on October 31, 2013. Latheesh B Chandran, personal staff member of former chief minister V S Achuthanandan, CPM Kannarkad former local secretary P Sabu, DYFI leaders Rajesh Rajan, Pramod Vadakkechira and Deepu Purushan were arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail.