Crisis in LDF as CPI quits Kollam MC

The CPI had quit from the post of convener in the coordination committee after the party nominee suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the CPI(M) in the bank election. Soon, CPI’s Deputy Mayor N Rajan submitted his resignation to the Corporation Secretary, and the party also relinquished the chairmanship of the standing committee on social welfare.

During the council meeting held on Friday afternoon, the 12 CPI members in the 52-member House sat separately with the Congress-led Opposition. They later staged a walkout. CPI Kollam district assistant secretary Sony B Thengamam said the party was not against the Left Front in the district.

“Of the 14 district cooperative banks in Kerala, CPI(M) has occupied the posts of chairmen in 12 banks. Here also they unilaterally occupied the chairmanship disregarding the feelings of the CPI,” he said.

CPI state assistant secretary and MP K E Ismail said the crisis in the LDF in Kollam stemmed from the CPI(M)’s failure to respect other coalition partners.

“The CPI has every right to claim the post of the bank chairmanship. The party has been holding the post since the inception of the bank. We are ruling majority of primary cooperative banks in the district. Hence, our demand has been a genuine one,” Ismail said.