Kerala Assembly polls 2026: CPI(M) expels K. P. Ramani after attending UDF convention in Taliparamba

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has expelled K.P. Ramani, a district-level leader and wife of rebel candidate T.K. Govindan, for attending a United Democratic Front (UDF) election convention in Taliparamba in Kannur district of Kerala.

The action came a day after Ms. Ramani, a member of the CPI(M) Sreekandapuram area committee attended the UDF convention held at Taliparamba town square, where she publicly extended support to her husband, who is contesting as an Independent candidate with the Congress backing in the Taliparamba Assembly constituency.

The district leadership stated that her action violated party discipline at a time of heightened political contest in the Taliparamba constituency. The development comes amid an escalating internal rift triggered by the party’s decision to field P.K. Shyamala, wife of CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, as a candidate in Taliparamba.

Protesting the move, Mr. Govindan, a former CPI(M) Kannur district secretariat member, had severed ties with the party.

Mr. Govindan had earlier criticised the party leadership, alleging unprecedented trends within the organisation and accusing it of perpetuating injustice. He also questioned the role of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in allowing such developments, announcing his decision to end a political career spanning over six decades within the CPI(M).

Explaining her decision to attend the convention, Ms. Ramani told media that she could notremain silent when her husband was being sidelined. Rejecting claims that his family was not supporting him, she said she had stood by the party for 59 years but found the treatment meted out to her husband unacceptable.