CPI (M) district conferences have been moving to its final stages. The stage is all set to witness state conference in Kottayam in February.  

As expected by many, CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has almost conquered the party. In Thiruvanathapuram district committee election witnessed a big blow to V.S faction. Most of the party men elected to state committee belongs to Pinarayi group. V.S team could not enjoy much favour from the capital district. 

Across Thrissur, Palakkad, and Kozhikode also, Pinarayi showed his unquestionable control over party. In Thrissur V.S didn't even participate in the conference. Even though he issued official clarification for not attending the conference; political think-tanks believe this was due to serious differences occurred in the conference and the election of office bearers thereafter. 

Though Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that party had no factionalism; he is trying to sideline the veteran V.S by using all his tactics. During the valedictory public meeting as part of the Palakkad district conference, Pinarayi spoke in favor of V.S and reiterated that there was no factionalism in the party. He warned that those who had been campaigning for a senior leader like V.S. Achuthanandan would actually tarnish his image. But according to political observers, this is only a face washing policy of party secretary to go ahead in party circles with no rivals.  

V.S also stated that party elections had been conducted as per the guidelines of party politbureau. This is first time in the history of C.P.M, a special guideline was introduced for conducting elections and conferences in Kerala. Now Pinarayi said that the proportion of factionalism had minimized and after the Kottayam conference it would be eliminated completely. This means party would be mastered by himself again with much more power and control.  

Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan should have faced many hardships after Kottayam conference. Untill now he has been in trouble mainly because some ministers are beyond his control. It would be difficult to lead those ministers in the future when the other factions get more powered. The number of state committee members from Pinarayi faction has been increasing proportionally after each district conferences.

Prominent leaders and parliament members of V.S faction N.N. Krishnadas and S. Ajayakumar didn’t get birth in Palakkad district committee. They didn't even enter into fray foreseeing a failure. Due to factional allegations Krishnadas had been degraded to area committee from district secretariat by the politbureau. Out of 41 district committee V.S faction got only 11 representatives.  

Everybody expected party would consider a senior leader like Krishnadas to district committee and maintain the factional balance. Pinarayi Vijayan admitted that there had been some problems in the Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram district committee elections. Pinarayi also confessed that there were differences in the party on serious policy matters but nothing as seen in the media. But the signals in the district conferences show the biased action by the Pinarayi group.  

When all the conferences are completed, Pinarayi would be the unquestionable leader, according to sources. Even now he is the controller of party, but in the coming days, he would be stronger and aggressive against the rivals. 

That suggests V.S should be more careful. He can't expect much more freedom to lead his government and the tough ministers. Helpless chief minister will have two options. Either to quit or follow the party secretaries’ rules just like a remote controlled C.M.
 

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