T’puram: An expanded meeting of the CPM state committee will be held in Kozhikode from Sept 13 to 15 to discuss the ideological and organizational changes needed in the wake of the party’s defeat in the assembly election.CPM state secretary M V Govindan said on Friday that the meeting would discuss measures to strengthen the party’s engagement with the public and rebuild trust. “The aim is to thoroughly overhaul the party by effecting the necessary changes in the way it functions,” he told reporters.In its election review report, the CPM central committee had criticized the state unit and rejected its assessment of the reasons for the defeat. It asked the state leadership to take a more realistic view of the setback.The report said the party’s over-reliance on the image of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had backfired. It also faulted the state unit over candidate selection. According to the report, the party failed to effectively communicate its political positions and instead focused on programmes and promises aimed primarily at retaining power.A meeting chaired by CPM central committee member C S Sujatha finalized the dates and venue of the expanded state committee meeting. CPM general secretary M A Baby and politburo members Pinarayi Vijayan, M V Govindan and A Vijayaraghavan attended.Govindan said the report for the expanded meeting was being prepared on the basis of post-election discussions held at all levels of the party. Suggestions from party sympathizers and the public had also been collected, he said.CPM plans protest against unscheduled load-sheddingGovindan said CPM would organize protests against unscheduled load-shedding. Party workers will light candles outside their homes on Sunday as a symbolic protest against the power restrictions, he said.
