Dissent in Piravom a headache for LDF

KOCHI: The candidature of Sindhumol Jacob, the former CPM member who is contesting for KC(M) in Piravom, has reportedly become an issue among a section of CPM local leadership.
Party sources said that the district leadership has intervened to resolve the issue as the controversy started affecting the campaign works.
Moreover, a group of KC (M) leaders supporting Gils Periyappuram, a local KC (M) leader and municipal councillor who resigned from the party on denial of candidature, too are opposing the candidature of Sindhumol.Gils has publicly announced that he would not work for the LDF.
However, CPM’s office-bearers denied the allegations and said the campaign works proceed without any fuss.
“There were some issues but everything has been resolved. The campaign is proceeding in full swing and allegations of infighting are baseless. Party members have accepted the candidature of Sindhumol and they are working together to ensure LDF victory,” said CPM area committee secretary Shaju Jacob.
Earlier on Thursday, a controversy kicked-off in the constituency, when KC (M) made a CPM member Sindhumol, who is the Uzhavoor block panchayat vice-president, as its party candidate.
After her candidature was announced, the CPM Uzhavoor local committee expelled her citing anti-party action as she did not inform the party about the candidature.
As the local committee’s action put the LDF in pressure, the CPM district leadership denied the reports of expulsion and said that the local committee cannot expel a member on its own.
Moreover, Sindhumol said that she was not a CPM member as her membership had expired.
Later, KC(M) chairman Jose K Mani too defended Sindhumol saying that her candidature was approved by the CPM state leadership.
However, the local leaders are not happy with the decision and many reportedly backed-off from the campaign works. Following this, senior leaders in the district kicked in to pacify the local leaders.
Meanwhile, infighting among Congress workers too was reported after a senior Congress leader in Piravom reportedly tried to contest as LDF candidate before KC (M) decided to field Sindhumol.
Gils had earlier alleged that Sabu P Jacob, a senior Congress leader, had given huge amounts of cash to Jose K Mani for getting candidature.
A constituency meeting by the Congress held on Friday discussed this allegation and it resulted in party workers manhandling each other.