CPM to expel Janasakthi scribes from party

T’PURAM: The CPM has decided to expel Janasakthi editor G Sakthidharan and managing editor N.Sugathan from the party.

Both of them had been served showcause notice some weeks ago and the respective local committees of the party have found the explanation filed by them unsatisfactory.

The decision will be reported to the state committee meeting of the CPM which begins here on Saturday. Janasakthi was started by Sakthidharan after he was forced to resign from the associate editorship of Desabhimani.

From the first issue onwards, the magazine took a stand criticising the wrong policies of the CPM and the government. The last issue of Janasakthi was noted for its sharp criticism against the appointment of T P Dasan as the Sports Council president.

The latest issue of Janasakthi hits hard against the extravagant renovation of the official residences of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Food and Civil Supplies Minister C Divakaran. Kodiyeri spent Rs.17 lakh and Divakaran spent Rs.

11 lakh for the purpose. Opposition leader Oommen Chandy has also been criticised for spending Rs. 5.75 lakh for the repair of Cantonment house.

The magazine questions the ethics behind this luxury and asks whether these ministers are the servants of the people or the princes of this country. It also carried an article by M N Vijayan criticising the extravaganza of the ministers.

The party leadership viewed the magazine with suspicion. Its growing popularity in the CPM circles, especially in Malabar, has caused concern in the party. The leadership viewed Janasakthi on a par with Padhom, which initiated a debate among the party cadres about the Fourth World ideology.

The three-day state committee meeting will also discuss on revamping of the state secretariat. CPM secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member R Umanath will attend the state committee meeting.

It is learnt that the state secretariat meeting which concluded here late Friday night has recommended three or four options to reconstitute the secretariat. The state committee will discuss the options and accept the most suitable one.