Sudhakaran to contest as independent but ‘not to discard CPM ideals & values’

Alappuzha: After a six-decade-long association with CPM and a soured relationship with its leadership due to its cadres' alleged personal attacks and functionaries' neglect, former minister G Sudhakaran decided to part ways with the party and announced his candidature as an independent in Ambalappuzha constituency for the forthcoming assembly elections. The 75-year-old indicated that he would neither join any other party nor discard his political ideologies, but posters lined the streets near his home at Punnapra Paravoor in the constituency branding him as a traitor. Congress, meanwhile, said it was "closely watching the developments". CPM district leadership has been reportedly cold-shouldering the four-time MLA, widely respected for his clean image and administrative abilities, ever since a report by Elamaram Kareem report pointed fingers at him for the reduced votes for party candidate H Salam in Ambalappuzha constituency in the last assembly elections.Sudhakaran claimed that the report, containing 22 allegations, was prepared with the aim of expelling him from the party and added that his stance in a 25-page document was not included in Kareem's report. He stated that apart from some members from Alappuzha district, no one in the state committee supported him while others remained silent despite knowing the facts. "I have not renewed my membership, and I am no longer a party member. Based on the experiences I faced, I decided to contest in this constituency as an independent," said Sudhakaran, adding that he was subjected to character assassination using political criminals. "They even changed my name to ‘Sudhakuran'. No one questioned it. My father, who taught letters to thousands, was abused," he said."People in responsible positions are saying that I became a minister twice. Such arguments are not applicable for a communist. In Russia, Lenin and Stalin remained in power until their death. No one told them to step down because of their age. How many times one became minister is not the issue but what they did for people using that position is what that matters. Why is this question not asked to (Thomas) Isaac, who was a minister two times or A M Arif, who contested five times?" asked Sudhakaran.The two-time minister said that even after deciding to contest as an independent, he would not speak against the Communist party and would not indulge in character assassination. Regarding contesting against CPM, he said his fight was not against the party."If the party gives the seat to someone, let that person win. There is no question of support from the UDF (for me) as I've not sought it. I have not spoken to anyone," he said."I will not abandon the party's ideals and values. I lived for the party so I won't criticise it. If personal attacks are made, the party will be ruined. The only weapon of CPM is politics. One can only understand all this by reading books," he said.CPM general secretary M A Baby said it was unfortunate that a leader like Sudhakaran, who served the party for a long period, announced his decision to contest the elections. "If he has announced to contest the election as an independent, it is sad. The remaining matters will be decided after party discussions," Baby said, adding that he spoke to Sudhakaran over the phone on Wednesday. MSID:: 129503957 413