Several senior CPI(M) leaders had rushed to Onchiyam to stem the flow of party workers to Marxist Party Eramala. However, the party suffered another blow when the new outfit, initially confined to a single panchayat, spread to four other panchayats in Onchiyam.

What worries the party is that the rebel virus has attacked Ayancheri and Villyappalli, two party strongholds close to Onchiyam. “Party activists seemed to have drawn inspiration from the Onchiyam experiment. Open meetings to denounce the party line have become common,” a local leader said.

DYFI state secretary T V Rajesh said efforts have begun to win back DYFI activists.

The dissidence bug seems to have bitten the CPI(M) student wing SFI also. Last Friday, SFI (Revolutionary) bagged 16 out of 29 seats in the election held to the school parliament of Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, Orkkattery. Official SFI could not bag a single seat.