Another fund scam jolts CPI(M)'s Kannur bastion

Kannur, July 31
The Kerala CPI(M) has been rocked by yet another financial scandal, this time from its ideological and organisational nerve centre, Kannur.

Allegations that nearly Rs 1 crore collected for a memorial building in the name of late former State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan remains unaccounted for have triggered fresh turmoil within the party, exposing deepening fissures in what has long been regarded as the CPI(M)'s most impregnable fortress.

The controversy comes close on the heels of unresolved allegations over party fund collections in Payyannur suggesting that financial irregularities are no longer isolated incidents but a recurring challenge confronting the Kannur unit.

Kannur occupies a unique place in the CPI(M).

It is the home district of many of the party's most influential leaders in Kerala, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, State Secretary M.V. Govindan, senior leaders P. Jayarajan, E.P. Jayarajan and M.V. Jayarajan, besides former Health Minister K.K. Shailaja.

The emergence of repeated financial controversies from a district that has traditionally projected itself as the party's organisational model has, therefore, become a source of considerable embarrassment for the leadership.

The latest allegations centre on the purchase of land and a building for a proposed local committee office to be named after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The property, bought for around Rs 70 lakh, was allegedly registered in the name of the then local secretary instead of the party, in violation of organisational norms.

It is further alleged that the property was subsequently mortgaged to raise Rs 30 lakh, while another Rs 20 lakh was borrowed from party workers and employees of cooperative institutions.

Fund-raising drives, including public exhibitions and coupon sales, reportedly generated substantial collections, but no comprehensive accounts were placed before party committees.

Following mounting pressure from grassroots workers, the party removed the local secretary and ordered an internal enquiry.

The former office-bearer has reportedly maintained that every major decision was taken with the knowledge of the leadership, a claim that has intensified demands for accountability beyond the local level.

With successive fund controversies surfacing from Kannur, the district that has long been the CPI(M)'s political showcase now finds itself confronting uncomfortable questions over transparency, internal oversight and organisational discipline.