Kanam Rajendran, CPI State Secretary of Kerala, was criticised by fellow party workers during the Ernakulam District Executive Committee meeting on Friday. The senior leader drew flak for his silence over many party leaders — including Muvattupuzha MLA Eldho Abraham — facing lathi charge for a protest in Kochi on Tuesday. Party leaders also accused him of making derogatory comments about those who attended the protest.

On Tuesday, CPI workers took out a protest march to the office of the Kochi range IG to protest the behaviour of the Njarakkal CI, who allegedly acted in a biased manner during a clash between members of the SFI (student wing of the CPI(M)) and the AISF in Vypeen last week.

The protest turned violent when the police lathicharged and used water cannons when the protestors attempted to break into the IG office. Several workers, including MLA Eldho and three police officers, were injured in the clash.

Following the incident, Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas conducted an enquiry into the incident. The probe was ordered by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Collector’s report will be released on Monday.

The district committee meeting of the CPI was held to discuss how the enquiry by the District Collector was being done. Participants also added that if the enquiry by the Collector was not satisfactory, a fresh probe must be ordered within a fortnight and CPI leaders will gather again on August 2 to discuss the same.

Kanam Rajendran also drew criticism for missing the district executive committee meeting after attending the zonal meeting in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Palakkad.  

Regarding the criticism, Rajendran said that a section of the media had exaggerated his comments on the protest.

The executive committee meeting participants also discussed the attitude of the CPI(M) towards CPI workers in the state. CPI is the second biggest party in the ruling LDF government following the CPI(M) in Kerala.