Ideological clarity may soon be a tap away for the CPI(M) cadre in Kerala

CPI(M) leaders raise slogans ahead of the extended state committee meeting in Kozhikode on September 13, 2026. Photo credit: K Ragesh

In the coming days, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) cadre in Kerala may have only to tap their mobile phones to clear their ideological confusion.

Development of mobile/web applications to inform party activists on political issues is one of the suggestions put forward by the participants during the open debate of the ongoing extended meeting of the party’s state committee in Kozhikode.

According to CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, the proposal is to strengthen the continuous process of ideological education of party cadres by incorporating modern technological innovations. Special web and mobile applications need to be designed for this purpose, he said. “Suppose if comrades have doubts about ideological or political issues, such apps can come to their rescue immediately,” Mr. Govindan told the media in Kozhikode on Monday (September 14, 2026) afternoon.

A review report issued by the party’s central committee on the Kerala assembly election debacle highlighted the lack of politicization in class and mass organisations. The review report says that both the leadership and the cadre “should be very sharp politically” when faced with an adverse situation and fighting the reactionary ruling classes that have united against them.

The Central Committee cited the evaluation report on the elections prepared by the State Committee and noted “a decline in the number of comrades capable of presenting our political perspectives to the people” and “the lack of adequate politicization occurring in class and mass organizations”, which it described as “the main organizational weakness”. The report says that though many courses were conducted against communalism, the party failed to translate it into public consciousness.

The three-day extended meeting of the state committee, which began on Sunday (September 13, 2026), is being held to address the organizational and political weaknesses of the CPI(M) against the backdrop of the Left Democratic Front party’s dismal performance in the Kerala assembly elections. In addition to the members of the State Committee, it is attended by members of the district secretariat from all over the state and leaders of the class and mass organizations of the party.

Earlier on Sunday (September 13, 2026), Mr. Govindan presented a draft document prepared by the State Committee on remedial steps needed to revive the organization. The participants then engaged in group discussions at the district level. Later in the night, an hour-long open debate of selected delegates was also held. The open debate continued on Monday (September 14, 2026).

Criticism in open discussion

Speaking to the media on Monday (September 14, 2026), Mr Govindan admitted that the party leadership was targeted for harsh criticism during the debate, although he did not elaborate. According to sources, delegates from various districts sought stronger remedial steps to address organizational deficiencies. There were also demands to fix the leadership’s responsibility for the assembly election debacle.

Mr. Govindan, meanwhile, said another proposal was made to form a collective of like-minded organizations, including human rights groups, to counter the unfair targeting of party leaders by central agencies.

This could be significant because about a week before the start of the CPI(M) meeting in Kozhikode, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent a letter to the Keralam State Police Chief seeking registration of a First Information Report against Opposition Leader and CPI(M) Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband and Beypore MLA-Pay-off PA Mohamed. Without mentioning the ED move, party general secretary MA Baby made a passing reference to the activities of central agencies during his inaugural address on Sunday (September 13, 2026). However, on the same day, Mr. Govindan specifically termed the agency’s action as an attack against the party.

The extended meeting is due to conclude on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) afternoon, with Mr Govindan responding to comments made during the open debate. He will also submit a report after adding the delegates’ suggestions for the remedial process to the aforementioned draft document. A mass rally will follow in the evening at Kozhikode Beach.

Published – 14 Sep 2026 19:33 IST