Differences emerge in the CPI(M) Keralam leadership over the assembly poll debacle

Arguably “differences of opinion” in the state leadership of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) on the reasons behind the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Assembly election debacle apparently surfaced on Wednesday.

Former finance minister and CPI(M) Central Committee member TM Thomas Isaac appeared to agree with the party’s Central Committee review report that the perception of patronage, among other myriad factors, had caused the public to disapprove of the LDF.

While laying the foundation stone of the CPI(M) local committee office in Alappuzha, Dr. Isaac said the party leadership felt they were “true believers” and others, “doubters and naysayers”.

Dr. Isaac said the CPI(M)’s stance that the party was always right, that so-called renegades were free to leave the party fold and that the organization would be better off without skeptics was self-defeating.

Dr. Isaac said the CPI(M) should be humble and receptive to public opinion, even though what people think is the truth may not always be right. He said the party had fallen victim to a massive distortion campaign orchestrated by the sprawling anti-communist camp. “The opposition cabal has successfully convinced the electorate that the CPI(M) has struck a deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he added.

Dr. Isaac said the voters had not abandoned the CPI(M). “The people have given the party a shock. The rude awakening should give the rank-and-file an impetus to the right course as part of a wider process of correction,” he said. He added that the CPI(M) had made mistakes in selecting candidates.

It seemed that reiterating the line of the Party Central Committee, Dr. Isaac took on deep political significance ahead of the CPI(M) state committee next week and the expanded meeting of the State Organizational Course Correction Committee in Kozhikode on September 13.

Moreover, it appeared to be in stark contrast to the stand taken by Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan at recent public meetings in Payyannur and Taliparamba in Kannur. Mr. Vijayan blamed the debacle in these forts and elsewhere in the state on treachery, internal sabotage and susceptibility of party workers to propaganda.

Mr Vijayan also appears to have given a pass to the CPI(M) Central Committee’s finding that “the personalization of the (poll) campaign and its centering only around the former chief minister, the lack of political oversight by the party committees on governance and political affairs, along with the public perception of high-profile governance, contributed to the failure of the LDF.”

The simultaneous speeches drew intra-party criticism that the CPI(M) leadership in Kerala was shirking responsibility and shifting the blame for the failure to the rebels.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 07:00 IST