The CPI(M) has once again suffered a major blow in its stronghold of Kannur, as its district committee member T.K. Govindan has openly come out against the party’s decision to field party secretary M.V. Govindan’s wife, P.K. Shyamala, in the Taliparamba constituency.
Speaking at a press conference in Kannur, T.K. Govindan said he had personally told M.V. Govindan during a meeting that he could not agree with the policy of making his wife occupy the seat after he himself had served as MLA for three terms.
“The party’s policy is that one should not contest after two terms. But here someone who has already been an MLA for three terms wants the fourth term to go to his wife. What does that mean? It effectively means he himself should continue for a fourth term. Since he is now the party secretary and cannot contest, an attempt is being made to make his wife the MLA there. I opposed it,” T.K. Govindan said, targeting M.V. Govindan.
Notably, even as the CPI(M) quickly entered the election fray by announcing most of its candidates, localised factionalism rooted in regional strongholds and resulting internal rebellions and expulsions continue to trouble the party.
Earlier in Payyannur, V. Kunhikrishnan, a former district committee member, was expelled after releasing a book accusing Payyannur MLA T.I. Madhusoodanan of misappropriating funds, including money collected for the families of party martyrs. The CPI(M) district committee cited “serious disciplinary violations,” alleging that Kunhikrishnan repeatedly raised “settled issues” that undermined party unity.
In the Ambalappuzha seat, veteran leader G. Sudhakaran—who left the party last week—emerged as the rebel. The UDF is reportedly planning to back Sudhakaran.
In Palakkad, P.K. Sasi—once a powerful but controversial leader—was expelled after inaugurating a dissidents’ convention, the Marxist Janathyapathya Kootayama, which reportedly saw significant participation. Sasi had accused Palakkad District Secretary E.N. Suresh Babu of being arrogant and autocratic, alleged involvement in illicit liquor smuggling, and claimed that the leadership was sidelining veteran cadres while protecting “drug addicts” and antisocial elements loyal to it.
T.K. Govindan has now also spoken out about what he described as “troubling tendencies” within the party, a move that could potentially lead to disciplinary action against him.
He began the press conference by recounting his long political journey. He said he had been involved in party work for about 60 years and that many might wonder how he could take such a stand.
“Certain tendencies that have never been seen in the party before are now emerging. I strongly opposed them. I have also criticised some matters sharply. That has brought certain consequences for me as well. But I did not act by weighing the pros and cons. When the assembly election candidates were decided, a decision was taken that does not conform to the party’s organisational procedures and does not match its moral standards,” Govindan said.
T.K. Govindan noted that according to the party’s organisational procedure, the candidate list must first be discussed in the district secretariat. In Kannur, the district secretary proposed that a woman should be fielded, that it should be in Taliparamba, and that it should be P.K. Shyamala. When the discussion moved to Payyannur, another proposal was made that Madhusoodanan should be the candidate there.
“There was strong opposition within the district secretariat to both proposals,” Govindan said. According to him, even though the party had conducted an inquiry into the Payyannur issue, many people within the party and among the public in Payyannur tend to believe Kunhikrishnan’s version rather than the party’s conclusion.
“There is a lack of confidence among both the public and party workers. In such a situation, it is not right to field someone as a candidate who stands under a shadow of suspicion and cannot fully convince the people,” Govindan said, criticising the party’s decision to field Madhusoodanan again from Payyannur.
Govindan added that similar opposition existed regarding the Taliparamba candidature. He alleged that a systematic effort had been made to bring Shyamala in as the candidate.
“Only the name of P.K. Shyamala from Taliparamba was sent to the state secretariat. Since only one name reached there, it was approved. The decision then came back to the district secretariat and later to the district committee,” he said.
Govindan added that he confronted state secretary M.V. Govindan and told him that he could not agree with a policy in which, after serving three terms as MLA, a leader attempts to retain the seat by fielding his wife for the fourth term.
“I also said I would not be able to work in this election campaign. The party policy says one should not contest after two terms. But after being an MLA for three terms, to say that the fourth term should go to my wife—what does that mean? It effectively means the same person continuing for a fourth term. Since he is now the party secretary and cannot contest, an attempt is being made to make his wife the MLA there. I opposed it,” he said.
Notably, T K Govindan plans to contest as a rebel candidate against Shyamala in the Taliparamba seat. Kunhikrishnan has also announced his candidature against Madhusoodanan after the latter’s candidature was officially declared by the party.
