CPI State executive recommends 6-month suspension for K.E. Ismail

Senior CPI leader K.E. Ismail

The Communist Party of India (CPI) State executive has recommended a six-month suspension for senior party leader and former national executive member K.E. Ismail. The party’s State council will take a final decision on the recommended action against him.

A meeting of the party State executive held in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday decided to initiate disciplinary action against Mr. Ismail in connection with his controversial statements about the death of P. Raju, former Ernakulam district secretary of the CPI.

The party’s Ernakulam district committee had sought action against Mr. Ismail following his statements suggesting that the party had wronged Raju. Mr. Ismail’s comments that some leaders in the party had hounded Raju had sparked a controversy.

The State executive sought an explanation from Mr. Ismail for his statements. The meeting held on Thursday found his statement unsatisfactory and recommended disciplinary action of six months’ suspension.

Mr. Ismail, however, refused to comment about the party State executive decision. He expressed his commitment to the CPI stating that he would remain with the party until his last breath. He said he had not got any official message from the party.