THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The organisational polls in the CPM, widely believed to be a litmus test of the factionalism within the official faction, will begin on September 15. Branch elections, which will begin in all districts, will be over in one month. A noticeable difference between this edition of organisational polls and the previous ones is the absence of a divided contest between VS and Pinarayi groups. Though there still exist two groups, the failure of V S Achuthanandan in mobilising anti-Pinarayi cadres under one umbrella has practically made a competition on usual lines out of question. ‘’VS is very active in throwing enough hints to his followers by making interventions in social and political issues. But, that alone won’t be sufficient to put up a brave fight at all levels,’’ said a CPM leader. Absence of trusted lieutenants down the line is the major problem faced by VS, point out sources close to him. By unveiling a meticulously crafted design, the official faction led by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan could silence almost all leaders close to him; the latest being VS’s lieutenants in Ernakulam, S Sarma and K Chandran Pillai. It is reliably learnt that VS had indicated to those who still maintain close ties with him not to engage in foolish battles. Instead, he told them, to wait for an intervention from the central leadership. Sources said the gameplan of the veteran leader is different this time. ‘’He is focussed on a one-point agenda of removing Pinarayi Vijayan from the party secretary’s post. As this is an election, he can campaign against a ‘tainted leader’ getting elected to the top post in the Kerala CPM,’’ said a source. For achieving this goal, VS is willing to join hands with other factions in the party. Recent issues such as the ouster of Kannur district secretary P Sasi from the party and the controversy over the candidature of VS in the Assembly elections have created fissures within the official group. The changed power equations in the Kannur group and the support extended by VS to certain Pinarayi group leaders during the Assembly elections are expected to tilt the balance against the official faction. The next secretariat and state committee meetings, which will commence here on September 17, will be crucial in determining the group equation. Along with the report of the inquiry commission which looked into the Gopi Kottamurickal scandal, the state committee may also take up a number of disciplinary actions initiated at different levels. The debate from branch conference level will then be centred around these actions. VS plans to put the official faction in the dock by criticising their stand in these disciplinary issues. He expects those criticisms to form the core of the discussions which will be held at different levels during the organisational polls. ‘’Such a mood will help convey an impression to the party central leadership that the Kerala party needed a leadership change,’’ a party source said.
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