We are prepared for talks with CPI: Kerala CPI-M

Kannur (Kerala), April 15 (IANS) Two days after leaders of its ally CPI expressed unhappiness over the Kerala government’s functioning, a senior CPI-M state leader on Saturday said his party is ready for discussions with the CPI on their grievances.

The Communist Party of India is the second biggest ally in the ruling Left Democratic Front, which is led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist. The LDF government returned to power in Kerala in May 2016 and is headed by CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan.

"We have no issues at all regarding a discussion with the CPI. Our only concern is that they could have raised their concerns in a LDF meeting, because airing the grievances in public provides ammunition to our political opponents to try and derive political mileage. This should not happen," state CPI-M Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told the media here.

On April 13, CPI leaders had expressed unhappiness over the state government’s functioning during a party executive meeting here. State CPI Secretary Kanam Rajendran too had expressed his unhappiness during a media interaction after the party meeting.

"The CPI, when it comes to governance, has more experience since they have been in the government along with both the Congress and the Left," Balakrishnan said.

He said the CPI-M leadership felt that the CPI wants the LDF to be stronger.

"… public airing of opinions and views won’t help the matters. We should remember that in 1980, as part of the then Left government, the CPI had joined a chorus with the Congress in a particular case. In the next assembly elections, the Left (Front) lost power while the case turned out to be a false one," the CPI-M leader recalled.