Delegates said the party was perceived as shielding Padmakumar throughout the controversy
The party also plans special interventions among fishing communities along the district’s 72-km coastline and initiatives against communal polarisation.
At the two-day meeting that concluded Wednesday, delegates said the party was perceived as shielding Padmakumar throughout the controversy, raising suspicions about CPM itself. Timely action could have limited the political damage, which was felt across the state and not just in Pathanamthitta, they said. Delegates said the party failed to effectively counter media attacks against her, while George failed to work in coordination with the organisation. District secretary M Mehaboob said party classes would be held for branch secretaries and local committee members in Nov and Dec, followed by classes for all members. Earlier reporting noted: Delegates said CPM was seen to be shielding Padmakumar throughout the controversy, casting suspicion on the party itself. Delegates said had he been removed in time, CPM wouldn’t have suffered such a blow, and the impact was felt across the state, not only in Pathanamthitta. Earlier reporting noted: Differences between former minister Veena George and local party functionaries contributed to her rout in Aranmula, some delegates said. They said CPM couldn’t counter media attacks on her, while she too failed to work in sync with the party.
Kottayam/Kozhikode : Delegates at CPM ’s extended Pathanamthitta district committee meeting criticized the party leadership for delaying action against former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar in the Sabarimala gold theft case, saying the delay damaged the party’s image and contributed to its setback in the assembly elections. They pointed out that no action was taken even after Padmakumar, then a district committee member, spent nearly three months in jail. He was removed only after the electoral defeat. Differences between former minister Veena George and local party functionaries were also blamed for her defeat in Aranmula. Her absence from party activities since the polls also came under discussion, with delegates seeking greater clarity over the reasons. Meanwhile, CPM’s extended Kozhikode district committee meeting decided to focus on winning back those who had drifted away from the party, including members of minority communities, and addressing organisational weaknesses exposed by the assembly election results. They pointed out that no action was taken even after he spent nearly three months in jail. Action was taken against the then district committee member only after the electoral defeat. She hasn’t been active in the party since the polls, delegates noted.
Earlier reporting noted: Kottayam: Delegates at CPM ’s extended Pathanamthitta district committee meeting criticised the party for delaying action against former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The delay hurt the party’s image and its performance in the assembly elections, said the participants during the meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Exalogic case involving opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan ’s daughter also drew criticism. Delegates questioned whether the CMRL dealings, even if legally defensible, were morally acceptable.