Posters signal rebellion in CPI’s TN unit

COIMBATORE: The CPI state committee may have elected R Mutharasan as state secretary at a convention in Coimbatore, but differences in the leadership have come to the fore in the form of a poster war across the state. The posters carry the photo of state council member C Mahendran, who was also in the fray, with the caption ‘new general secretary’.Mahendran’s supporters alleged malpractice in the election for post.
Party sources said the candidature of Mutharasan was decided at the last minute with the support of former state secretary D Pandian, who served for three consecutive terms. "Mutharasan scraped through with two more votes while three votes of the total 127 polled were declared invalid," said a state council member.
"Pandian wanted to contest for the fourth time but decided not to contest as he was not sure of polling 75 % of the votes required for a fourth term," he said. Such a contest was unheard of in the left party, he pointed out.
"Pandian was unwilling to back Mahendran for the post. A section in the party even tried to tarnish his image with some baseless complaints," the state council member added. Posters projecting Mahendran as the ‘general secretary’ splashed walls across the state fuelling the controversy.
While a section of partymen alleged it was the handiwork of Mahendran backers, a few suspect it was an attempt by a group to get Mahendran to face action.
Newly-elected leader Mutharasan denied allegations of malpractice in the election and said it was held in the presence of national leaders with their approval. "In our party, there is a chance for appeal in higher committees. The election was conducted as per the rules," Mutharasan told TOI.
He suspected that the posters were printed for defaming Mahendran and creating confusion in the party. The ‘mischievous’ allegations against Mahendran were rejected by the party by way of a resolution proposed by him, he said. "There are no differences between us and we are working together," he said.
Both Mutharasan and Mahendran hail from the Thanjavur region where communist parties command support among farmers and farm workers. Mutharasan was secretary of the party’s agriculture workers union.
When contacted, Mahendran said, "I don’t know the intention behind the posters. There may be a conspiracy. But I can’t come to any conclusion," he said. On possible malpractices in the election, Mahendran said, "I am a committed CPI cadre. I have faith in inner party democracy".