5 days ago
All eyes on CPI's Kottayam meet amid growing tensions within the LDF
Amid the growing concerns within the Communist Party of India (CPI) over a relentless push by the Kerala Congress (M) to expand its influence within the Left Democratic Front (LDF), all eyes are now on the upcoming CPI district conference at Vaikom, Kottayam.
The three-day event will formally begin on August 8 with a Red Volunteer Parade. Organising committee president John V. Joseph will hoist the party flag, followed by a public meeting to be inaugurated by CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam. Revenue Minister K. Rajan will also address the gathering.
The registration of delegates is scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m. the following day. A total of 325 delegates elected from 11 area conferences across the district will participate. At 11 a.m., CPI national executive committee member P. Santosh Kumar, MP, will inaugurate the delegate session. CPI district secretary V.B. Binu will present the organisational report and financial statement. Agriculture Minister P. Prasad will inaugurate the party's birth centenary celebrations later that day.
On August 10 afternoon, the district secretary will respond to discussions on the political and organisational reports. The conference will then elect delegates to the State conference and form the new district council, followed by the election of the new district secretary.
As part of the conference, a women's meet will be held at Kottayam on Tuesday at 10 a.m. CPI national secretariat member Annie Raja will inaugurate the gathering.
Local body elections
The conference gains added political weight in light of reports that both the CPI and Kerala Congress (M) are eyeing a larger share of seats in the upcoming local body elections. The rising friction is expected to make seat-sharing talks within the LDF more contentious than ever.
The CPI's Idukki district conference held last month had expressed strong reservations over what it termed a deliberate effort to sideline the party's role within the coalition.
A working report presented at the Idukki conference pointed out that the Kerala Congress (M) has been steadily projecting itself as the second-largest constituent of the LDF, a position historically held by the CPI.
