As the dismal performance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Kerala Assembly elections is being probed in the forums of leading partners, Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary Binoy Viswam on Sunday (May 10, 2026) spoke critically about personality cults and the way the long-running Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) strike was being conducted. He also reiterated his party’s claim to the post of vice-chairman of the opposition in the assembly.
Speaking to reporters after the CPI National Council meeting in Delhi, Mr. Viswam described the LDF’s “unexpected” defeat as a warning issued by the people, adding that the Left will learn from its mistakes and correct its mistakes.
Responding to questions on whether the focus on one individual threatened the LDF’s prospects, Mr. Viswam said Communist parties should not adopt personality cult as a path or policy. If such tendencies existed, they are bad, Mr. Viswam said. “This is one of the lessons the Communist Party has learned from experiences around the world,” he said.
Mr. Viswam’s comments in this regard come amid reports that the CPI leadership meetings were strongly critical of the way Pinarayi Vijayan was being emphasized as well as his style of functioning as Chief Minister.
On the ASHA strike, Mr. Viswam said that a Left government cannot approach such a struggle as a Right government would. Treating the workers’ struggle with disdain is not a left-handed path, he said.
Mr. Vishwam stuck to his stand that the CPI was entitled to the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition. The CPI(M)’s objections to the CPI’s claim were only technical, he said.
About the electoral performance, he said that the LDF lost in constituencies where it never had. These are warnings for the LDF, he said. According to him, the CPI will not try to cover up its shortcomings. The left will study the reasons for the defeat. It has an obligation to identify the reasons, make corrections and move forward. At the same time, according to him, communist parties can never leave the field. In the present national scenario, the presence of the Left is necessary to organize minorities, tribal communities, women and students and fight for their rights, he said.
Published – 10 May 2026 20:41 IST
