A former forest minister of the state, Viswam is also a senior member of the party's national secretariat.
Published Dec 11, 2023 | 1:27 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2023 | 1:27 PM
Binoy Viswam. (X)
The Communist Party of India (CPI), the second-largest constituent of Kerala’s ruling LDF, chose Rajya Sabha member Binoy Viswam as its new state secretary in-charge, following the death of its incumbent state secretary Kanam Rajendran.
The party state executive, which met in Kottayam on Sunday, 10 December, in the presence of the party’s national general secretary D Raja, after Rajendran’s funeral, decided to assign him the new responsibility. A former forest minister of the state, Viswam is also a senior member of the party’s national secretariat.
According to CPI sources, Viswam will assume responsibility soon and the state council of the party will ratify the decision later, possibly during its scheduled meeting on 28 December.
Rajendran died following a heart attack in a private hospital in Kochi on Friday.
Interacting with the media, Raja said that the selection of Viswam for the position was unanimous.
“No other names came up for the discussion. Viswam is a strong leader with proven organisational skills. He has the ability to strengthen and lead the party from the front,” Raja said.
Viswam, meanwhile, held that he did not regard himself as a replacement for the great leaders who preceded him at the post. He also pledged complete support for the efforts to strengthen the party as well as the LDF and said he was committed to utilising his abilities to the fullest in fulfilling his new role.
“The party executive has entrusted me with this new responsibility and I am determined to give it my all. I hope the state council will endorse the executive’s decision,” Viswam said.
Viswam takes charge of the party state unit at a time when the organisation is facing tough challenges organisationally.
He will have to take charge of the party right away in order to prepare it for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and get it out of the awkward situation that the alleged scam at the party-controlled Kandala Cooperative Bank has caused.
“Inside the LDF, the relationship between CPI(M) and CPI is important, and we will together strive forward to strengthen the Left Front,” Viswam said.
A native of Vaikom in central Kerala, Viswam is the son of former CPI leader and iconic MLA CK Vishwanathan and party leader CK Omana.
His wife Shaila is the daughter of Koothattukulam Mary, a legendary leader of the CPI who contributed significantly to the Indian left by working among the downtrodden.
He was elected to the state Assembly twice from the Nadapuram constituency.
Known for his dedication to environmental protection, Viswam was one of the best forest ministers Kerala had ever seen.
He proved his mettle as an able editor by leading the party’s Malayalam mouthpiece, Janayugam, for a long time.
He is the author of many books, including travelogues. He was also active with the party’s trade union AITUC and student wing AISF for a long time.
He will continue to lead the party in Rajya Sabha, where he has already positioned himself as a powerful voice of the secular opposition.
