CPM admits its Kerala mess

Already, the party’s organisation report has elaborated on how deep the roots of factionalism have spread. It admits that as many as seven districts have been affected and the party seems divided down the middle.

With factionalism taking such strong roots, the CPI(M) leadership does not want to delay action. Party insiders say, one of the first jobs of the Central Committee would be ‘‘to steady the ship in Kerala’’.

In fact, it appears that a substantial part of the discussions on the organization report since last night has focussed on Kerala and the aftermath of the divisive Mallapuram state conference of the party in which a panel put up by Achuthanandan was defeated by nominees of Vijayan.

It seems that the fire has not died down and has grown into a blaze instead. The party is not feeling ashamed to admit that the outgoing politburo and the Central Committee have failed to clear the Kerala mess.

The shadow of factionalism has also been felt in deliberations with a handful MPs and several delegates considered close to either Achuthanandan or the other politburo member, E. Balanandan, raising a number of questions on ideological issues, not all of them linked to Kerala. And a number of crucial decisions has been taken on the basis of the organizational report.

Senior politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai said in the near future, the party would make an effort to ‘‘improve the quality of party membership and to improve the class and social composition of the party.’’

This implies that the party was worried about the quality of people it has been letting in without screening their interest in Marxism-Leninism. There was also concern that the party was failing to woo the Scheduled Castes and Muslims.

Also, it has agreed to strengthen the rectification campaign, which means it wants the comrades to return to austere lifestyles. It will lay more stress on ‘‘ideological work’’, ensuring that all members are aware of the tenets of Marxism-Leninism and are able to interpret political developments in the light of the theories.