Divided Communists celebrate undivided party govt's jubilee

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 3 (UNI) It was an undivided Communist Party that formed the World's first democratically elected Communist government when it came to power in Kerala in 1957, and today it is the divided Communist party that celebrates the golden jubilee of that government.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), the two communist parties formed of a split after the first government in Kerala, had charted out various programmes in their own capacity to make the celebrations a great event.

While the CPI(M) has chalked out programmes in the district-level rather than going for a state-level function, the CPI would be organising programmes at the state-level. The two parties, besides conducting seminars and public meetings, would be honouring the members, who were in the first Assembly.

The CPI(M) commenced its celebrations from March 31 in all the districts. It had planned elaborate cultural programmes, seminars, photo exhibitions, public meetings and honouring of eminent communists.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat would preside over the valedictory of the golden jubilee celebrations on April 5 in the state capital.

The CPI, which had also started its celebrations, would hold a public meeting on Thursday at Thrissur, in which party state secretary and a member of the first communist government Veliyam Bhargavan would participate.

The party would conduct several programmes like seminars, public meetings in all the districts from April 5 to 12. A public meeting would be held in Thiruvananthapuram on April 12.

On the CPI(M) going alone with its celebrations, CPI sources said the festivity could have been held in a more splendid way if it was conducted jointly.

''But the CPI(M) had charted out the programmes well in advance and we had met a bit late,'' CPI said and stressed that there was no conflict with its ruling partner on this account.

The pro-CPI youth wing All India Youth Federation had already announced year-long celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the first Communist Government.

The celebration was inaugurated at Ernakulam on March 24.

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