UDF partner CMP on verge of split

Communist Marxist Party (CMP), a minor partner of the ruling UDF led by former minister M V Raghavan, is on the verge of a split with rival factions in the party expelling each other.
Though the internal issues in the CMP will have no impact on the Oommen Chandy ministry's stability since the party has no MLA, the UDF leadership has asked functionaries of both the factions to keep away from the front's district conventions till issues are sorted out.
A directive in this regard was issued by KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, sources said.
The problems in the party began after its founder leader Raghavan fell seriously sick and got virtually bed-ridden.

The group fight reached a flash point when one of the party secretaries K R Aravindakshan expelled another secretary and State Planning Board member C P John.
In retaliation, the John faction removed Aravindakshan from the party post.

Reacting to the development in CMP, Chandy said today it was for the party factions to resolve their internal issues.
He, however, rejected the Aravindakshan faction's demand for removal of John from the Planning Board, saying John was made a member of the Board not as a representative of CMP.
Meanwhile, those in the party remaining neutral claim the real fight between the two groups is to gain control of some co-operative institutions controlled by the party in Kannur district.

Once a firebrand CPI-M leader, Raghavan floated CMP in 1986 after he was expelled from the party for bringing an "alternative document" challenging the party's electoral alliances and tactical lines in the state.
Later, CMP became part of the UDF and Raghavan became minister twice when the coalition was in power.