Curtains to go up on CPI(M) state conference from Feb 22

The four-day state meet of the ruling CPI(M) will get underway here from tomorrow in the backdrop of the government facing heat over political killings and the party facing embarrassment over charges of financial fraud by CPI(M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son.
The meeting is likely to discuss threadbare the achievements and shortcomings of the 21 month old LDF government and ways to strengthen CPI(M) from the grassroots level.
The conference, being held once in three years, will discuss the party's political and organisational report and the tactical line to be adopted in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
This is the first state conference of the party after Vijayan took over as Chief Minister in May 2016.

Despite his busy schedule, Vijayan ensured his presence in all 14 district party conferences held as a prelude of the state conference.
Party observers also point out that both Vijayan and Balakrishnan succeeded in weeding out factionalism in CPI(M).

Discussions are also likely on the political strategy of a tie-up with Congress to take on BJP at the national level as suggested by CPI(M) General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury.
Yechury's line had been turned down at the party Central Committee at Kolkatta after being opposed by CPI(M)'s Kerala unit.
The growth of BJP, which opened its account in the state assembly,and the general political situation,both at the national and state level,will be discussed at the meet, party sources said.

Another issue likely to be taken up is whether or not the Kerala Congress(M), led by former Finance Minister K M Mani, is to be included in the LDF as expansion of the Left Front is said to be one of agenda of the meet, according to sources.
Mani has been invited to attend a seminar organised in connection with the meet.
Self appraisal of performance of leaders, ways to strengthen feeder organisations such as Democratic Women's Association will be taken up during the meet.
According to sources, the embarrassment caused to CPI(M) due to the alleged financial dealings of the elder son of Balakrishnan at Dubai will also figure in the meeting.

However, the issue is unlikely to cause any trouble for Balakrishnan's smooth sailing for a second three year term as secretary.
A total of 566 delegates and seven Politburo members, including Prakash Karat,S Ramachandran Pillai and M A Baby are attending the meeting, besides 94-year-old Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan.
Achuthanandan had during the Alapuzha state conference in February 2015 walked out of the meeting over differences with his then beta noire Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the party secretary.
The conference is being held when the Congress led opposition has put pressure on the government over the killing of youth congress functionary at Mattanoor in Kannur last week.

Two CPI(M) workers have been arrested in this regard even as Congress leader and former Kannur MP K Sudhakaran and youth Congress President Deen Kuriakose are on an indefinite fast since yesterday at Kannur and in front of the state secretariat, demanding arrest of the actual accused as early as possible.
Though CPI(M) has distanced itself from the murder, Congress has alleged that the killing was with the knowledge of the local leaders.