Thiruvananthapuram: The rift between CPM and CPI leaders which is out in the open especially in Ernakulam district, is turning into a major embarrassment for LDF in the state. The Facebook post of CPM firebrand youth leader and MLA M Swaraj the other day, accusing CPI Ernakulam district secretary P Raju of spreading white lies, has taken the rift to a different level. "Raju made a statement that I visited CPI mandalam committee office and lamented the factionalism and hero worship prevailing in CPM," Swaraj said.
He said the CPI leader's statement was a big lie. "I have not visited any CPI office. Raju might have made the statement out of the shock received because of the recent crossover of a top CPI district committee member to CPM," Swaraj said. The CPM leader was also at his sarcastic best saying that even Nobel Prize would fall short in honouring the CPI leader for his thick skin in telling big lies. The relations between the two parties had worsened in the district after rebel CPM workers of Udayamperoor led by Raghuvaran had joined the CPI.
What irked the CPM leadership was the grand function organised by the CPI to welcome the CPM rebels in the presence of state secretary Kanam Rajendran. While CPI had justified the decision to accommodate CPM rebels saying that these people would have otherwise ended in the enemy camp of UDF or BJP, the Marxists are not ready to buy the theory. The CPM hit back recently when a group of rebel CPI workers joined the party in the district.
Meanwhile, veteran CPM leader V S Achuthanandan's participation in "anti fascist seminar" organised by CPI-led youth wing AIYF has come as a major embarrassment for the party in the district. The veteran leader was given a rousing welcome by the CPI cadre at the meet. Meanwhile, Mr. Raju reiterated that Swaraj had visited Thripunithura Assembly committee office of the CPI ahead of the Assembly polls. “We were forced to disclose that because of his highly unwarranted statement about the presence of CPI workers in the state,” he said.
