Mani removed from party post by CPI(M) for controversial speech

Cracking the whip, CPI(M) today removed its Idukki district secretary M M Mani from his post for his controversial speech that the party had eliminated political foes in the past, which had embarrassed the organisation and invited an all round condemnation.

The CPI(M) state Secretariat said action against Mani was taken as he had deviated from the party's stand in the controversial speech made at a public meeting in Idukki recently. CPI(M) Politburo had also directed the state unit to take disciplinary action against Mani, who had remained defiant and refused to quit the post despite all round condemnation of his speech and police filing murder cases against him.

"Mani's speech had been used by CPI(M)'s enemies to attack the party. The party had no role in the murders that took place in Idukki district in the past, as the Congress-led UDF and a section of the media being propagated," the CPI(M) said in a release at the end of its two-day Secretariat meeting. While removing Mani from the party post, the Secretariat also sought an explanation from him for his speech.