Kannur, 08 March (H.S.):With discontent brewing within party ranks over the selection of P.K. Shyamala as the CPI(M) candidate in the Taliparamba Assembly constituency, the party leadership has decided to entrust senior leader P. Jayarajan with the responsibility of overseeing the election campaign in the constituency.
P.K. Shyamala, the wife of CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan, has been fielded by the party for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election. However, the decision has triggered criticism from sections of grassroots workers and local leaders who expressed reservations about the candidature. The issue also sparked debates across Left-leaning social media platforms, where several handles openly questioned the choice.
The controversy has also revived discussions about a past incident during Shyamala’s tenure as Chairperson of the Anthoor Municipality. At the time, expatriate entrepreneur Sajjan died by suicide following allegations that he had faced harassment from municipal authorities over delays in obtaining building permits for a convention centre project. Though the matter had earlier generated significant political controversy, it has resurfaced again in the context of the election campaign.
Against this backdrop, the CPI(M) leadership has moved to contain the discontent within the party by assigning P. Jayarajan to take charge of the campaign activities in Taliparamba. Jayarajan is considered one of the most influential mass leaders of the party in Kannur district and enjoys strong support among grassroots cadres.
Party sources said the decision was taken with the objective of calming internal dissent and ensuring organisational unity ahead of the crucial election. Leaders believe that Jayarajan’s presence and influence among local workers will help consolidate the party’s base and prevent factional divisions from affecting the campaign.
The issue was reportedly discussed during a recent meeting of the CPI(M) district committee, where leaders emphasised the need to pay special attention to the Taliparamba constituency. Concerns were raised that personal opposition to Shyamala among some sections of party workers could potentially impact the party’s electoral prospects if not addressed promptly.
Taliparamba includes several areas such as Mayyil, where Jayarajan commands considerable support among party cadres. By placing him in charge of the campaign, the party leadership hopes to bridge internal differences and energise the grassroots network.
With the Assembly election approaching, the CPI(M) is expected to intensify its efforts in the constituency to ensure unity within the organisation and strengthen its electoral position in Taliparamba.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
