Kochi: The resolution of the CPM party congress to co-opt social movements is unlikely to make much of an impact on functioning of the party in Kerala.
While one section of party leaders feels that the party being dogmatic comes in the way of its winning consecutive elections in the state and should open up to reverse the trend, another feels the situation in the Kerala is bit different and there cannot be much change in the way it functions.
A senior party leader told Deccan Chronicle that the party will have to rework its structure to fully meet the vision contained in the new party resolution. “Whenever we make an attempt to make a change, we face the charge that we become liberal democrats. It is going to be a long drawn process.”
Another leader said the party leadership is not in a mindset to relax the grip on party organization, given the experience in West Bengal. “We need the change but how it will reflect on the party organisation in the state is yet to be seen,” he said.
CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan said the party will be flexible to accommodate the new vision. “The party organisation is for implementing the policies, and there is no going back on that,” he said.
“The party in Kannur has accommodated people who once led physical attacks on us. We work with all sections of people in our palliative care programme. We work even with the supporters of the Muslim League in Pampuruthi island in Kolachery panchayat which is facing erosion of land to mindless sand mining.”
Ernakulam district secretary P Rajeev said the party in Kerala has its sphere of influence across society and can take up issues on its own unlike the north India states.
“We work with others in programmes like organic farming and on developmental issues such as the metro,” he said.
“The party has been open to people and forces outside the party from the early days,’ said P M Manoj, associate editor of party organ Deshabhinmani.
“The first Communist ministry in Kerala had members from such groups. But today, there are some limitations for the party. Some of the Leftist organizations such as SUCI which were invited to the party congress follow a patently anti-CPM stand in Kerala.”
The party will not be able to make amends in its attitude towards organisations with a declared anti-CPM position, he said.
