The ongoing three-day Kozhikode district conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] will conclude at Vadakara on Friday with a new district committee choosing a new secretary to replace the incumbent, P. Mohanan.
According to sources, a panel of names for the new district committee will be presented before the delegates. If they approve the panel unanimously, the new committee will come into effect, which will choose the new district secretary. At least 12 members will be elected to the district secretariat as well. Mr. Mohanan has already completed three terms at the helm and is going to step down from the post. The sources said that K.K. Dineshan, Karshaka Sangham leader, and M. Mehboob, Consumerfed chairman, were among the front runners.
In the event of a debate over these names, A. Pradeepkumar, former Kozhikode North MLA, could emerge as a consensus candidate. However, Mr. Pradeepkumar is not part of the district committee now as he is a State committee member. The names of a couple of other senior leaders from the district are also doing the rounds as probable contenders for the post. After the election of the new district secretary, a red volunteer march and a public event, to be attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held in the evening.
Open discussion
Meanwhile, the ‘kafir’ WhatsApp screen shot controversy, which emerged on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, is reported to have been raised at the open discussion by the delegates at the conference on Thursday. Some of the delegates reportedly said that the controversy had defamed the party.
The screenshot asking votes for United Democratic Front candidate Shafi Parambil instead of the Left Democratic Front candidate and CPI(M) leader K.K. Shailaja had emerged as one of the key issues in the last minutes of the election. Some others raised the alleged scandal related to taking bribes for offering a government job involving an area committee member in Kozhikode. Mr. Vijayan, party State secretary M.V. Govindan, and Mr. Mohanan were present at the session.
Published - January 30, 2025 09:23 pm IST
