Kerala: CPI-M to Dismiss Party Members Who Drink, CPI Claims They Can Drink Privately
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Synopsis
In Kerala, the CPI-M and CPI have distinct rules regarding alcohol consumption among party members. CPI-M Secretary M. V. Govindan stated that any comrade found drinking will be expelled, while CPI Secretary Binoy Viswam said members can drink privately but not in public.
Key Takeaways
- CPI-M has a strict no-drinking policy for members.
- Members caught drinking can face expulsion.
- CPI allows drinking at home but prohibits public intoxication.
- The CPI-M and CPI have a historical rivalry since their split in 1964.
- Pinarayi Vijayan's leadership has been pivotal in maintaining CPI-M's power in Kerala.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 3 (NationPress) The two Communist parties in Kerala, the dominant party -- the CPI-M and the CPI -- the second largest ally in the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, have distinct regulations for those who indulge in alcohol.
On Monday, M. V. Govindan, the State CPI-M Secretary, a veteran legislator and former Excise Minister, candidly expressed the party's position regarding drinkers.
"We are a party with a well-defined ideology that discourages our members from smoking or drinking. If you (media) can identify any of our comrades who consume alcohol, he will be expelled from the party," stated Govindan.
He was speaking with reporters ahead of the forthcoming state party conference scheduled to commence later this week, where he is poised to secure another term.
However, earlier this year, State CPI Secretary Binoy Viswam stirred controversy by asserting that his party's stance permits comrades to drink, provided they do not do so publicly.
He emphasized that none of their party members should be seen intoxicated in public, although they are allowed to drink at home and remain indoors.
Interestingly, the CPI-M was formed following a split in 1964, with the CPI-M subsequently dominating the Communist landscape, particularly in West Bengal for over three decades, and a similar situation was evident in Tripura. However, circumstances changed in both states, and their only stronghold now remains in Kerala, where Pinarayi Vijayan made history by retaining power in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Over the past nine years, there have been minor conflicts between the CPI-M and CPI. During the first Vijayan government, the CPI created a stir when all four of its Ministers boycotted a weekly Cabinet meeting due to disagreements with Vijayan, but the issue was quickly resolved.
In Kerala, although the CPI currently aligns with the Left, it has previously partnered with the Congress, resulting in legendary leaders like C. Achutha Menon and P.K. Vasudevan Nair serving as Chief Ministers with Congress's support.
