Kannur: Mr P. Jayarajan was elected as the CPM district secretary for the third term consecutively at the party district conference which concluded here on Monday. Though the delegates expressed different opinions on his tenure, Mr Jayarajan’s strong hold at the grassroots level came handy for him.
The conference elected a 49-member district committee comprising six fresh faces, including DYFI district secretary V.K. Sinoj. P. Vasudevan and K. Kunjappa. Mr Jayarajan had become the party secretary in the CPM citadel after the sacking of Mr P. Sashi from the post in 2010. He retained the post at Payyannur in 2012 and at Kuthuparamba in 2015. Mr Jayarajan was elected to the Assembly three times from Kuthuparamba.
Party gives in to his huge cadre support
P. Jayarajan’s continuation as Kannur district secretary of CPM has indicated that the party leadership has no option against a leader who enjoys cadre support.
The Kannur strongman had come in for sharp criticism for self-glorification, and there were even demands from a section of party district leaders for relieving him from secretary’s post at the conference. But despite having strong differences with Mr Jayarajan’s style of functioning, the leadership could not shift him out. Sources said the strong support of area committees along with cadre backing forced the leadership to abandon replacement move.
However, he may be considered for elevation as secretariat member during the state conference scheduled to be held in Thrissur in April. It is felt that replacing him at the district conference could have sent wrong signals to the party cadre in Kannur unit which is the strongest district unit of the party in the country.
At a time when the CPM has accused the BJP-led government of targeting Mr Jayarajan and other leaders in Kathiroor Manoj murder case, any move to relieve him from the post could weaken the party’s campaign against Sangh Parivar onslaught and demoralise the cadre. It was due to these factors that despite facing criticism during the discussions in the conference and his line being reportedly dubbed as “anti-party” by none other than chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the leadership had to retain him for the third time as district secretary.
Mr Jayarajan had come under sharp criticism from state leadership in November for indulging in self-promotion and trying to outgrow the party. A documentary and music album praising him were cited by a section of members for his actions alien to the communist way of life. However, CPM state secretariat had played down the matter saying it was part of an exercise integral to the party and that Mr Jayarajan too had taken the criticism in the right spirit. “Criticism and self-criticism was a normal course in party committees. All party members should do self-criticism which is a unique organisational quality of the CPM,” he had stated then.
