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Journalism of Courage
The CPM lost the election to the local bodies at Onchiyam,a historically significant red bastion in North Keralas Kozhikode district. But elsewhere in the district,where counting was held on Sunday,the CPM halted the Congress juggernaut witnessed in several other districts last week.
The CPM retained the Kozhikode Corporation and municipalities in Koilandi and Vadakara with comfortable margin. Of the 75 village panchayats,it has gained an edge in 37. In block and district panchayats the CPM-led LDF weathered the Congress storm. The Congress had improved its tally from the elections in 2005,but the party failed to put an expected show.
For the first time,the Communist rebels who had floated the Revolutionary Marxist Party,would rule Onchiyam panchayat with the support of the Congress. The CPM was sent to the Opposition benches in two other village panchayats.
Onchiyam has a unique space in the history of the Communist Party in Kerala. The Communist movement at Onchiyam gained ground soon after the first party unit in Kerala was formed at Pinarayi in Kannur in 1939. When the Communist Party was banned in 1948,Onchiyam had lost 10 comrades in police firing. Onchiyam Martyrs Day is an important day in Keralas Communist calendar.
Left brass to meet Chinese leaders
New Delhi: A group of Communist Party of China leaders are in the capital to attend a conference China and India: 60 Years and Beyond organised by the Congress party. CPMs Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury among others will meet the Chinese leaders to discuss party-to-party relations,a Left leader said.
