In a sharp critique reminiscent of the post-2024 Lok Sabha polls analysis, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has squarely placed the blame for the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) poor performance in the recent local body elections on Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and its major ally, the CPI(M).
Internal Meetings Point Finger at Leadership
During crucial post-poll review sessions held by the party executive and state council, CPI functionaries identified widespread public dissatisfaction with the LDF government, particularly with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as a primary reason for the electoral drubbing. The discussions highlighted that despite rolling out numerous welfare schemes, the ruling front failed to translate its pro-people programs into votes.
This criticism echoes the party's stance after the 2024 general elections, where some members had pointed to the CM's perceived 'haughtiness' as a contributing factor to the setback. Sources indicate that while the CPI forums endorsed most allegations against the CPI(M) and the government, they engaged in limited introspection regarding their own role in the defeat.
Sabarimala Scandal and Minority Alienation Cited
Senior CPI leaders expressed strong disapproval of the government's handling of the Sabarimala gold smuggling case. They argued that the explanations offered by the Chief Minister, the CPI(M), and the government failed to win public trust, especially following the arrest of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president, Padmakumar. The functionaries conceded that the public had valid reasons to believe the narratives put forth by the opposition UDF and BJP in the wake of the scandal.
Furthermore, the CPI's analysis found merit in claims that a significant section of the Muslim minority community was offended by CM Vijayan's open camaraderie with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, who has repeatedly made caustic remarks about minorities.
CPM's Deflection and the Road to 2026
In response to the pointed discussions within the CPI, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan declined to comment, stating that the CPI is entitled to its opinions and the CPI(M) need not respond. The CPI(M) had previously attributed the poll failure to the overconfidence of LDF functionaries, rejecting anti-incumbency as a cause and even terming the LDF government's governance as 'excellent'. The party has decided to conduct extensive house visits to understand the voters' grievances.
Looking ahead, CPI functionaries have called for serious introspection within the LDF and immediate remedial measures to regain public confidence, with the crucial 2026 Kerala Legislative Assembly election in sight. The party stressed the urgent need for corrective steps to ensure the front's viability in the upcoming state polls.
