A senior CPI(M) leader on Monday raised an unexpected rebellion against Politburo member and Kerala state secretary M V Govindan, causing a stir in the party’s stronghold, Kannur.
CPI(M) Kannur district secretariat member T K Govindan severed his six-decade-long association with the party in protest against the decision to field the party state secretary’s wife, P K Shyamala, in the Taliparamba constituency for the April 9 Assembly elections. M V Govindan has been representing the constituency, which is in Kannur district, since 2021. Being the state secretary, Govindan is not in the fray this time.
T K Govindan, who expected a party ticket to contest from the seat, alleged that the party was indulging in dynastic politics.
“The party state secretary sidelined me in the candidate selection only to ensure the seat goes to his wife. This arrogance should be questioned. Govindan, who had served as MLA for three terms (previously in 2001 and 1996 also), wanted his wife to contest. There is a clear conspiracy behind the candidature of Shyamala. What has taken place is something that does not fit the party’s ideology and morality,” T K Govindan said.
“When this issue was discussed in the district secretariat, I had expressed my opinion that Shyamala should not be made a candidate. There are many eligible women leaders in the party to be considered for candidature. But the party district secretariat discussed only Shyamala’s name,” he said.
T K Govindan also questioned the decision to move former health minister K K Shailaja from her seat of Mattanur to the Congress-held seat of Peravoor. “If this injustice is not questioned and resisted, the party will collapse. The party has to explain why Shailaja was sent to Peravur instead of her incumbent seat. What justice prevails in exiling Shailaja and making the party state secretary’s wife the candidate in Taliparamba?” he asked.
T K Govindan, one of the senior-most leaders in the party district secretariat, said he would contest as an Independent in Taliparamba.
Reacting to the development, CPI(M) state secretariat member M V Jayarajan termed T K Govindan a “class traitor”.
“M V Govindan has no role in the candidature of P K Shyamala. It was the party’s decision. People of Taliparamba will give a fitting reply to the class traitor,” Jayarajan said.
