Fraud allegation against Kerala CPI (M) leader Kodiyeri’s son to figure in party meet

The CPI (M)’s crucial Kannur district party conference gets underway on Saturday during which the raging controversy over an alleged fraud committed by party state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's son in Dubai is likely to be discussed.

The Kannur district party unit is the home turf of Balakrishnan and also Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. According to latest party figures, Kannur district currently leads the rest of the country in having the largest number of Communist Party of India-Marxist workers.

A media report alleging that Binoy Balakrishnan, son of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, had committed Rs 13 crore fraud with a Dubai-based company, has triggered a major controversy in Kerala. A three-page letter, dated January 5, from HIA Al Marzooqi, sponsor of the Dubai company, which was made available to the media, states that he has started legal procedures against Binoy for the alleged fraud.

On Thursday, the state CPI (M) refuted all allegations after Binoy produced letters from Dubai police and legal authorities that there is no case registered against him.

The party said that "canards" are being spread against them and cited this as the most recent one.

Though for the time being, through these new letters, the party appears to have swept the issue under the carpet, it is surely set to be discussed with the state party Secretary in the news for the wrong reason.

Another issue that could surface is of P Jayarajan, the present District Secretary of the party, who has a huge fan following in Kannur and was given a dressing down by Balakrishnan after the top leadership of the party expressed resentment at the way Jayarajan was engaged in "self glorifying".

So with Jayarajan cut up with both Balakrishnan and Vijayan, and given the huge support base that he has, all eyes are on how Jayarajan's close aides will take up the issue of the alleged financial fraud.

And to see that things are kept under check, both Balakrishnan and Vijayan will be present all through the three-day meeting.

Speaking to the media, Jayarajan on Friday said meetings are the place where all issues are discussed and it could also be the time to introspect.

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala who raked up the Binoy issue on the floor of the assembly this week, on Friday speaking at a party meeting in Alappuzha said the news "shows the real face" of the CPI (M). He said the Left party has to give an explanation on what's happening to the party and the way in which the children of top leaders are "leading a lavish lifestyle".