THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state general secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Friday said that the party did not hold discussions with the CPI on the Lok Ayukta Act amendment because the CPI did not raise such a demand earlier.
"The decision to amend the ordinance was taken by the cabinet. CPI has four members in the cabinet. If the CPI had demanded a discussion on the subject, we would have arranged one. Still, there is room for discussion. CPM and CPI share close ties and there is nothing unresolvable between the two parties," Balakrishnan said.
On CPI assistant secretary Prakash Babu's statement that the Lok Ayukta Act amendment was unconstitutional, Balakrishnan said it was for the court to decide such matters.
The CPM state secretary also said the controversial statement made by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath helped to bring to the country's attention the achievements that Kerala has made in health, education and social service sectors. He said the BJP leaders in Kerala should have tried to correct such baseless statements passed by their leaders.
No change in party congress, state meet
In view of the respite in the surge in Covid cases in the state, the CPM has decided to make no changes in the schedule of the party state conference and the party congress originally fixed in March and April, respectively.
Balakrishnan said the party state committee meeting would be held in Ernakulam, from March 1 to 4, and the 23rd party congress in Kannur from April 6 to 10. Alappuzha district conference, deferred owing to Covid spike, would be organized on February 15 and 16. All meetings would be held, strictly in accordance with the Covid restrictions in place, he said. The CPM had earlier announced that it would decide by the second week of February whether there should be any change in the party Congress and state conference schedule.
In view of the public health situation, the CPM state secretariat held here on Friday decided to cancel public rallies in connection with the party conferences. Also, RT-PCR test would be made mandatory for the delegates. Balakrishnan said virtual rallies would replace the public rallies.
Balakrishnan said all committees of CPM would discuss in detail the political resolution to be ratified in the party congress. "Any member of the CPM and non-party members can pass their comment on the resolution or propose amendment in the resolution brought out by the central committee on February 2. The proposals should reach the party central committee before March 10," Balakrishnan said.
