Koyilandy municipal chief quits as CPM row intensifies

KOZHIKODE: K Santha, Koyilandy municipal chairperson and wife of N V Balakrishnan who was suspended from the CPM two days ago, has handed over her resignation to the party leadership.
Balakrishnan, who is known as a staunch V S Achuthanandan loyalist, was suspended from the party for a year for 'anti-party' activities.
The former Koyilandy area secretary had incurred the wrath of the party by writing an article against the CPM's withdrawal of agitation on the solar issue.Santha told ToI that she had handed over the resignation letter to the party leadership.
"The reasons behind the decision cannot be divulged now," she said.
Balakrishnan, who was a DYFI leader before becoming the CPM Koyilandy area secretary, was a dissident leader within the party for a long time.
There were rumours that he would attend the function organised by dissidents in the CPM in May 2012 in protest against the murder of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan.
Balakrishnan, however, did not attend the meeting. The meeting convened by the CPM on Friday to report the action against Balakrishnan witnessed unruly scenes with a section of party members seeking action against the present area secretary, who is also facing allegations.
Balakrishnan's suspension and Santha's resignation is likely to accentuate the dissident activities in the CPM in Koyilandy and nearby areas.
A section of party workers in areas such as Mavoor and Atholi had left the party after revolting against the leadership three years ago.