The decision of the state committee, including loyalists of state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, would give a setback to his arch rival and Politburo member V S Achuthandan, who publicly asserted on November 22, 2007, that the time was ripe for a second round of land reforms. He then said “ if there was at least one Communist left in Kerala Government, the state would go ahead with land reforms”.

The state committee, in an official release, said the second land reforms proposed by “certain extremist groups” was mere blather, which would divide society.

The CPI(M) had always taken pride in the land reforms in Kerala as it was the Government under late E M S Namboothiripad who had passed the historical land reforms legislation. The party’s Right-wing deviation would have far-reaching consequences in the state’s politics and social sector.

The party decision was based on the three-day discussion on guidelines for its Government in the state. The guidelines, presented by central committee member and Finance Minister, were meant for moving forward the reformist agenda of the official faction led by Pinarayi.

The guidelines were presented in the CPI(M) State Committee by Central Committee member and Finance Minister Thomas Issac on Thursday. Deliberations on the instructions, which the party has made out as the growth plan for the state, were held in the state committee meeting on Friday too. Considering the brutal majority the official faction enjoys in the committee, the proposed guidelines would get ratified.

The guidelines said the Left stand had delayed several developmental projects. On recommending SEZ status for projects, Achuthanandan’s line had been opposite to that of Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem. Achuthanandan was chary of the real estate interest of the investor and the thriving land mafia in Kerala.