Kozhikode, 13 September (H.S.):The CPM's three-day extended Kerala State Committee meeting will begin in Kozhikode on Sunday to examine the party's heavy defeat in the recent Assembly elections and discuss organisational and political corrective measures.

Party General Secretary M.A. Baby will inaugurate the meeting at 10 a.m. at the AKG Auditorium in the CPM's Kozhikode district committee office.

The meeting comes amid growing demands within the party for an extensive organisational overhaul. A section of leaders reportedly wants changes at the top, including the replacement of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan and State Secretary M.V. Govindan. However, the leadership has restricted State Committee members from participating in discussions on the organisational report, prompting discontent within the party.

Only district secretariat members and representatives of class and mass organisations will participate in the report discussions. The leadership maintains that the restriction follows party practice, as the existing State Committee had already considered and approved the report after incorporating suggested amendments. CPM convention does not permit members of a committee that approved a report to debate it again at another forum.

Critics within the party, however, view the arrangement as an attempt to prevent sharp criticism of the State leadership, particularly Pinarayi Vijayan and Govindan. They argue that meaningful restructuring will be possible only if the demand for sweeping changes receives adequate space during the deliberations.

Meanwhile, the party leadership remains united in opposing the Enforcement Directorate's actions in the monthly payment case. Leaders have described the investigation as a planned Sangh Parivar attempt to target Pinarayi Vijayan.

More than 300 delegates, including State and Central Committee members, Politburo members, district secretariat representatives from all 14 districts and office-bearers of various organisations, will attend the rare extended meeting.

The programme will conclude on Tuesday with a rally and public meeting at Freedom Square on Kozhikode beach. The CPM expects nearly one lakh people to attend. Decisions taken at the meeting will subsequently be communicated to the party's district, area, local and branch committees.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman