After the CPI(M), the CPI has also decided to take out a Kerala march.
Briefing reporters after the two-day party State executive committee meeting which concluded here on Monday, CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran said the march, to be led by him, would campaign for the protection of Kerala’s secular tradition.
The march would begin in Manjeswaram on January 27 and conclude in the State capital on February 18, he said.
Mr. Rajendran said the effort would be to reach out to the maximum number of people and address gatherings at a minimum of four centres every day.
Secular values were faced with serious challenge and the effort of the jatha would be to raise a strong defence against the incessant attacks on secularism, he said.
The CPI State secretary sidestepped questions about Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan’s role in the coming Assembly elections and said each party was free to decide whom they should field in elections.
Whether Mr. Achuthanandan should contest in the election should be decided by the CPI(M).
The CPI did not believe in interfering with the candidate selection of other parties, just as it would not tolerate others interfering with its candidate selection, he added.
Mr. Rajendran said the faction of the Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) led by P.S. Pradeep had communicated its decision to associate with the CPI.
Poll performance
The party State executive had evaluated the party’s performance in the local government elections and concluded that there was improvement in its showing.
He also came down strongly on SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan and Kanthapuram Abubaker Musaliyar for their statements flouting secular and gender norms.
The party, he said, is of the view that the bar bribery case should be referred to the CBI for further investigation.
