Thiruvananthapuram on August 28 : The CPI-M has announced the appointment of central committee member and Kerala excise minister M.V.Govindan as secretary of the party in the state.Govindan succeeds Kodiyeri Balakrishnan who been forced to retire due to health reasons.
Kodiyeri had started his third term as secretary of state in March of this year.
The announcement was made on Sunday following the CPI-M state committee meeting, which was chaired by LDF chairperson E P Jayarajan.
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Kerala chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Politburo members Prakash Karat, M.A.Baby and A.Vijayaragavan also attended the meeting.
The leaders had contacted Kodiyeri at his home on Sunday morning prior to the meeting.
“Since Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is unable to fulfill his duties as CPI-M state secretary and state secretary, the State Committee meeting held today selected M V Govindan as the party’s state secretary.” the press release issued by the CPI-M stated.
Govindan, aged 69, is a three-time MLA.He is currently representing the Thaliparamba constituency in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
After his rise in the party’s leadership, Govindan is expected to be removed from the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet.
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