Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM came down heavily on the CPI at the LDF meeting here on Sunday for its decision to boycott the cabinet meeting over its displeasure with Thomas Chandy continuing in the cabinet. The CPI defended the decision saying that the Chief Minister had been informed. Both CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan openly expressed their displeasure and other allies also supported the views of the CPM.
CPI ministers E Chandrasekharan, V S Sunil Kumar, P Thilothaman and K Raju had not taken part in the cabinet meeting. It was after that Mr Chandy resigned from the cabinet. Chief Minister Vijayan said that the action by the CPI was nothing but blatant violation of party discipline. CPI leaders responded that they boycotted the cabinet meeting according to the policies of their party. They explained that they decided to stay away since they felt that a person criticised by the court taking part in a cabinet meeting was not right.
However, Kodiyeri explained that he had informed the CPI that Thomas Chandy would resign. Meanwhile, including Kerala Congress in LDF was not discussed in the meeting. According to LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan, they had not discussed including K M Mani, who left the UDF, in LDF. Mr Viswan also said that he came to know of K M Mani’s inclusion in the LDF only from newspapers.
