Kannur: The CPI(M) in Kerala is going through one of its biggest turmoil ever since the Loksabha election results are announced where the party faced its worst drubbing in the recent times.
The party is facing stiff resistance from its own cadres and local leaders who have been demanding for a deep introspection after its vote share has dwindled in party strongholds in Kannur. However, the resignation of Manu Thomas, the former DYFI district secretary from the primary membership of the party and the former CPM leader openly challenging the leadership against certain ‘undesirable’ activities has led to a major face off between Manu and CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan.
Manu Thomas who was expelled from the party later had come up with a series of allegations against the CPM’s Kannur district leadership. However, CPM stalwart P Jayarajan hit out at Manu Thomas and threatened to sue him for allegedly slandering him and his son through social media.
Manu Thomas challenged Jayarajan for a public debate on the allegations he has made in a cryptic Facebook post’
“I invited Jayarajan for a public debate, I have been receiving threats and calls from quotation gangs who control illegal gold smuggling. However, i am not surprised at all. The CPM district leadership should come out and speak on the charges I had made. To all those who are shielding the party, I clearly know for whom you are working for. Please don’t force me to spill more details. Whatever happened in Onchiyam and Edayannur are not party struggles, it was just a drama that was enacted.
Once you are born, you will die. I believe the death should happen when one fights with full conviction and heads held high. That could be alone or when you are part of an organization. For those who have destroyed the dreams of others and who are working as ‘divine communist fans’ may not understand that”, said Manu Thomas in his facebook post.
“One can kill someone, but cannot silence the voice of the future. Hence I have no fear”, the post ended.
The face-off between P Jayarajan and Manu Thomas has become a huge embarrassment for the party in Kannur, the citadel of the CPM and where the home-town of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is situated.
It all began when Manu Thomas in an interview with a newspaper levelled allegations against the district leadership, including Jayarajan accusing them of harbouring strong ties with criminal gangs, including those involved in gold smuggling and quarry mafia. However, an infuriated Jayarajan hit back in his facebook post.
“Manu Thomas was not involved in any political work for 15 months. Was he fighting quotation gangs or quarry owners during the Loksabha election? If Manu makes false allegations against the party, we cannot merely standby and nod”, he wrote in his Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the BJP has taken up the issue and have attacked the CPM. The Congress even welcomed Manu Thomas to join the party.
“The Congress party has been raising the same issue for many years. We had already told that the gold smuggling and the quarry mafia in Kannur region is being controlled by CPM leader Jayarajans son and Akash Thillankeri. The same is been uttered by Manu. We will hold a demonstration towards the Kannur collectorate tomorrow demanding an investigation by a central agency”, said Martin George, Kannur Congress district president to TV9.
The party leadership is been questioned by the local committee and the branch committees in Kannur where the local leaders have questioned the senior leadership for the poor performance in the Loksabha polls. CPM has faced a major setback in its strongholds in Kannur such as Mattannur, Panoor, Koothuparamba and Thalassery where they have gained significantly in the 2021 assembly elections.
Manu Thomas who was expelled from the party later had come up with a series of allegations against the CPM’s Kannur district leadership. However, CPM stalwart P Jayarajan hit out at Manu Thomas and threatened to sue him for allegedly slandering him and his son through social media. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
