Kerala CPI leaders hold meeting, express unhappiness with government

Leaders of the CPI -- the second largest party in the ruling Left Democratic Front goverment in Kerala -- on Thursday expressed unhappiness at a party executive meeting here over the state government's functioning.

Communist Party of India Secretary Kanam Rajendran too expressed his unhappiness over the functioning of the Pinarayi Vijayan government during his media interaction after the party meeting.

During the daylong meeting, various CPI leaders went hammer and tongs against what they said was the way the Kerala government under Vijayan is handling various issues.

Rajendran first took on CPI-Marxist politburo member Prakash Karat, who last week reminded the CPI Kerala unit that it is still part of the LDF government and not in the opposition.

Karat said the CPI-M will take up the statements against the government by some CPI state leaders with the CPI central leadership.

"We are prepared for a discussion. The CPI-M just needs to intimate us the date for the discussions," Rajendran told reporters.

"We will always play the role of a corrective force. We wish to remind him... that we have not taken up the opposition role... we are only concerned to see that the views of the Left are implemented," Rajendran said.

Rajendran expressed displeasure against Vijayan and two senior party colleagues -- Power Minister M.M. Mani and E.P. Jayarajan -- who last week criticised Rajendran on the issue of alleged police excesses.

"Neither I nor my party has created any controversy on any issue. It should be looked into by those who create it," said Rajendran while responding to a query on controversies in the past 10 months after the Vijayan government assumed office.

--IANS

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