Sun Jan 05 14:55:33 UTC 2025: ## CPI(M) Re-elects Russel as Kottayam District Secretary Amidst Chief Minister’s UDF Critique
**KOTTAYAM, Kerala, January 5, 2025** – A.V. Russel has been re-elected as the district secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kottayam, Kerala, for a second term. The announcement came at the conclusion of the party’s district conference in Pampady on Sunday. The 63-year-old Russel previously served as interim secretary and boasts a long history with the party, including 12 years as Changanassery area secretary and 27 years on the district committee.
The conference also saw the reconstitution of the district committee and secretariat, with six new members joining and six others departing. The ten-member district secretariat welcomed three new additions. The event drew nearly 300 attendees, including party delegates, committee members, and state representatives.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressed a public meeting during the conference’s valedictory session. He launched a sharp attack on the United Democratic Front (UDF), alleging a loss of independent decision-making due to increased influence from the Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Vijayan further accused the Congress of vote trading with the Sangh Parivar, citing the BJP’s victories in Nemom (2016) and Thrissur (2024) as evidence.
The Chief Minister also highlighted various developmental projects undertaken by his government, including infrastructure initiatives like the Edamon-Kochi power line, National Highway development, coastal highway improvements, and the GAIL pipeline.
First Piper 