Amidst indications that he would be absorbed back into the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and fielded as Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the next Assembly elections from a constituency in Palakkad district, former MP S. Sivaraman on Monday announced his decision to quit the Congress to become part of the “left and progressive forces” in the State. Mr. Sivaraman also announced his resignation from the post he currently holds: chairman of the Kerala State Development Corporation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Sivaraman claimed he was forced to resign from the primary membership of the Congress party as it was neck deep in corruption. The present United Democratic Front government was a perfect example of corruption, maladministration, and mismanagement, he said adding he would join hands with progressive forces to fight corruption and communalism.
Mr. Sivaraman said he had apprised the CPI(M) State leadership of his decision to quit the Congress. He said he was awaiting a positive response from the CPI(M). Asked about the chances of him being fielded as a candidate in the Assembly elections, Mr. Sivaraman said it would be decided by the LDF.
Mr. Sivaraman had resigned from the CPI (M) in 2010 and joined the Congress, saying that the party had deviated from its programmes and policies and had moved away from the Scheduled Castes and backward communities.
He was the third former MP of the CPI(M) to leave the party of late, after K.S. Manoj (Alappuzha) and A.P. Abdullakutty (Kannur).
