Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India Marxist, which heads the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala, is facing mixed fortunes ahead of the elections scheduled for April 13.
In recent times, a number of its senior leaders have deserted the party and joined other parties. A number of allegations against leaders in the opposition camp, however, have helped reduce some of the embarrassment.
Over the past few days, the CPM suffered two major blows when Sindhu Joy — the former state president of the Students Federation of India — and Alphons Kannanthanam — the Kanjirappally MLA, who was a CPM-backed independent — deserted the party.
Surprise move
Joy threw her weight behind the Congress, while Kannanthanam, a former civil servant, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in a surprise move. Joy and Kannanthanam have, in fact, taken the route adopted by others from the Left camp some time ago.
A few months ago, K. S. Manoj, who had been elected to parliament with the support of the Left, crossed over to the Congress camp, and A.P. Abdullah Kutty, MLA, also decided to quit the party.
Political observers say these desertions come as a surprise, in contrast to the past when the CPM normally expelled members and there were fewer resignations.
Joy's crossing over to the Congress camp is particularly embarrassing for the Left, especially since it comes just before the poll and because she is taking up women's issues in the campaign trail, a subject close to the heart of CPM veteran and chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan.
In recent times, a number of its senior leaders have deserted the party and joined other parties. A number of allegations against leaders in the opposition camp, however, have helped reduce some of the embarrassment.
Over the past few days, the CPM suffered two major blows when Sindhu Joy — the former state president of the Students Federation of India — and Alphons Kannanthanam — the Kanjirappally MLA, who was a CPM-backed independent — deserted the party.
Surprise move
Joy threw her weight behind the Congress, while Kannanthanam, a former civil servant, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in a surprise move. Joy and Kannanthanam have, in fact, taken the route adopted by others from the Left camp some time ago.
A few months ago, K. S. Manoj, who had been elected to parliament with the support of the Left, crossed over to the Congress camp, and A.P. Abdullah Kutty, MLA, also decided to quit the party.
Political observers say these desertions come as a surprise, in contrast to the past when the CPM normally expelled members and there were fewer resignations.
Joy's crossing over to the Congress camp is particularly embarrassing for the Left, especially since it comes just before the poll and because she is taking up women's issues in the campaign trail, a subject close to the heart of CPM veteran and chief minister V. S. Achuthanandan.
