Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3 (IANS): The CPI, an ally in the ruling CPI-M-led Left government in Kerala, has protested at the manner in which the ministers' names have been printed in the Kerala government diary.

The Communist Party of India on Tuesday expressed its displeasure over the issue after it found that the general norm was not followed in listing the cabinet ministers' names and addresses, which has led to stopping the printing of the diaries.

Over the years, the general norm has been that after the chief minister's name, the names of ministers are listed in alphabetical order.

However, this time, after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's name, the names of the CPI-M ministers were listed followed by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and only then came the names of the CPI ministers, which has irked the party.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has the support of 91 legislators in the 140-member Kerala Assembly with the CPI, the second biggest ally in the Vijayan-led government, having 19 legislators.

When the issue was taken up by the CPI leadership, Vijayan directed the printing department to stop the printing of the diaries.

The CPI for a while has been chafing at the manner in which 'big brother' CPI-M has been treating it.

At its party executive meeting held here, many leaders had expressed their unhappiness at the way things were going, but party secretary Kanam Rajendran asked them to show restraint.

At the meeting Vijayan was referred to as 'Narendra Modi in dhoti'.

Informed sources said the printing of the diaries would resume shortly and it is expected that the general norm of printing the names of ministers in alphabetical order will be followed.