Communist Marxist Party (CMP), floated by veteran Communist leader M.V. Raghavan after his expulsion from the CPI(M) in 1986, has split.
The faction led K.R. Aravindakshan has moved closer to the LDF and seems set to merge their faction with the CPI(M). The split in the party, which has been in the making over the past one year following a sharp setback in Mr. Raghavan’s health, became formal on Saturday with the Aravindakshan faction taking over the party’s Kannur district committee office and turning into the LDF’s election committee office with the help of CPI(M) leaders P. Jayarajan and others.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the faction loyal to State Planning Board member C.P. John, who has been sticking closer to the ruling UDF, swiftly took control of the party’s State committee office in the city and sought police protection. The two factions were expected to hold discussions with UDF leadership here on Wednesday to settle their disputes, but that would not be, given the developments on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference at Thrissur, Mr. Aravindakshan and party leader Mr.M.K. Kannan said they will work with the Left Democratic Front. The party Central council had taken a decision in the matter and a formal decision would be announced at a special convention of the party to be held at Thrissur on March 30. As many as 80 Central council members of the total 131 members had participated in the meeting and seven members had applied for leave, they said.
Mr. Aravindakshan said that Mr. John and his supporters had been trying to undercut them both within the party and in the alliance. However, in a statement here, Mr. John accused Mr. Aravindakshan and his supporters of having committed a betrayal unprecedented in the political history of Kerala. Mr. Aravindakshan and Mr. Kannan, who had spoken in several UDF conventions over the past one week, have betrayed the party and taken it to the camp of those who consistently tried to eliminate Mr. Raghavan.
