Tussle in CPI intensifies as Panniyan refutes remarks of national secretary
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Kannur: CPI secretary Panniyan Raveendran on Thursday denied reports that he had applied for a two-month leave from party activities on medical grounds.
“I am not on leave and haven’t applied for any. The task to lead the party is still with me. I’ll do it with responsibility,” Panniyan said while talking to reporters here.
CPI national general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, when asked about the absence of Panniyan from the national executive meeting in Delhi earlier the day, told reporters that he was on a two-month leave. Reddy also said that the Kerala secretary had sent an official letter applying for it.
Panniyan, however, denied Reddy’s remarks.
He further said certain people were trying to create misunderstanding in the party workers over the disciplinary action taken by the party following the controversy over the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha candidature.
“There is a clandestine attempt from certain quarters to tarnish the image of the party. That won’t sell here as the state Council of the party is united,” the CPI leaders said.