Sreemathi row is latest show of Vijayan's stranglehold on party
Hyphen Web Desk
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The controversy over the bar for senior CPM leader P K Sreemathi to attend state party meetings is refusing to die down as it emerges that the decision was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's.
Sreemathi had attended the secretariat meeting on the basis of intimation received from the state secretariat under state secretary M V Govindan.
But as the meeting began, Pinarayi Vijayan singled Sreemathi out, saying she was not supposed to attend the meeting as her primary sphere of activity was Delhi by way of her being a member of the Central Committee.
Apparently, Vijayan is upset over her inclusion in the central committee as Sreemathi is past the party's age ceiling of 75 years. Only Vijayan is officially allowed an exemption from the age limit,
Although she was called to the meeting by M V Govindan, the abrupt decision by the Chief Minister has put him in an embarrassing situation, forcing to defend the decision as party organisation's rather than by Vijayan in his individual capacity.
The controversy has cast a renewed spotlight on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s unchallenged control over the party.
Reports that surfaced on Sunday indicated that Vijayan had directed Sreemathi to refrain from attending the party’s state secretariat gatherings, a move perceived by many as a significant assertion of his dominance. Attempts by the CPM leadership to downplay the incident have done little to quell the uncertainty, with explanations offered by General Secretary M.A. Baby, M.V. Govindan, and Sreemathi herself failing to provide a definitive answer regarding her status in the decision-making body.
While M.V. Govindan maintained that any relaxation of Sreemathi’s secretariat duties was strictly to allow her to focus on national-level responsibilities, scepticism remains high among political observers. “The Delhi Mission is the priority,” Govindan said, referring to her engagement with the All India Democratic Women’s Association activities. He stressed that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Sreemathi, nor was any ban officially communicated. Nevertheless, his comments were interpreted by critics as evasive, reflecting the party’s discomfort in addressing the matter head-on.
P.K. Sreemathi, a former Health Minister, also sought to dispel rumours of her exclusion. Speaking to reporters, she asserted that she continued to carry out her party responsibilities and that no instructions barring her from the state secretariat had been given. “I am fully committed to the tasks assigned to me by the party, both at the national and state levels,” Sreemathi said, adding that she maintained regular communication with the state leadership.
However, despite these official statements, conspicuous gaps in the explanations have fuelled further suspicion. None of the senior leaders categorically confirmed that Sreemathi was permitted to attend future state secretariat meetings, leaving room for speculation about a silent sidelining at Vijayan’s behest.
Political analysts argue that the issue cannot be viewed in isolation. They point to a discernible pattern of centralisation of power around Vijayan, particularly following his re-election in 2021. His handling of internal dissent has been noted for its firmness, with several leaders previously perceived as independent voices either being marginalised or reassigned roles away from the state core committee.
While M.V. Govindan maintained that any relaxation of Sreemathi’s secretariat duties was strictly to allow her to focus on national-level responsibilities, scepticism remains high among political observers. “The Delhi Mission is the priority,” Govindan said, referring to her engagement with the All India Democratic Women’s Association activities. He stressed that no disciplinary action had been initiated against Sreemathi, nor was any ban officially communicated. Nevertheless, his comments were interpreted by critics as evasive, reflecting the party’s discomfort in addressing the matter head-on.
P.K. Sreemathi, a former Health Minister, also sought to dispel rumours of her exclusion. Speaking to reporters, she asserted that she continued to carry out her party responsibilities and that no instructions barring her from the state secretariat had been given. “I am fully committed to the tasks assigned to me by the party, both at the national and state levels,” Sreemathi said, adding that she maintained regular communication with the state leadership.
However, despite these official statements, conspicuous gaps in the explanations have fuelled further suspicion. None of the senior leaders categorically confirmed that Sreemathi was permitted to attend future state secretariat meetings, leaving room for speculation about a silent sidelining at Vijayan’s behest.
Political analysts argue that the issue cannot be viewed in isolation. They point to a discernible pattern of centralisation of power around Vijayan, particularly following his re-election in 2021. His handling of internal dissent has been noted for its firmness, with several leaders previously perceived as independent voices either being marginalised or reassigned roles away from the state core committee.
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