Thiruvananthapuram: Fissures have appeared in the impregnable Kannur lobby that controls the CPM in Kerala, with voices of dissent raised against its powerful district secretary P. Jayarajan in the state committee.

According to reports appearing in a section of vernacular newspapers, Jayarajan stormed out of a meeting when some members criticised him over a video eulogising him.

The contentious 15-minute video is produced under the banner of the Puracherry Grameena Kalavedi in Kannur, from where both the chief minister and the party state secretary hail, by one Pradeep Kadayapram.

Such videos showering praise on a leader are unheard of in the communist party in Kerala, an exception perhaps could happen only in the case of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who has the final say in everything concerning the government and the CPM in the state.

This is considered the main reason for reprimanding Jayarajan, otherwise one of the hardliners in the party with a big following.

In a hurriedly called news conference in Kannur, unusual on the part of an individual party functionary, Jayarajan denied he had walked out of the meeting. But he confirmed both the existence of the video and that he had come under severe criticism over it.

Denying that he had anything to do with the production of the video, Jayarajan said: "For a CPM worker like me, the party that helped me grow has the right to criticise me too. There is no exception for anyone - ordinary member to top leader - from this rule. Criticism and self-criticism are part and parcel of the party."

Asked whether his criticism would be discussed at lower levels, the usual practise in the CPM, Jayarajan said anything concerning the party could be taken up. He clarified there was no special status for Kannur in the CPM and that the party's decisions were implemented in the district too.

Jayarajan, known for his crusade against the RSS in the district, is facing several criminal charges, including the murder of Sangh parivar workers. Not long ago, Jayarajan had come under the party's scanner when he and his supporters laid siege to a police station in Payyannur demanding the release of an arrested CPM worker. At that time, he had lashed out at the police, under the supervision of Vijayan.

Perhaps what might have upset state committee members could be a portion of the video where Jayarajan has been compared with P. Krishna Pillai, the founder of the communist movement in Kerala. This unexpected development has given way to speculation at a time when Vijayan is under pressure over his "undue protection" of a minister accused of violating wetland laws.