Taliparamba MLA TK Govindan refuses to comment on Pinarayi Vijayan’s criticism

TK Govindan Photo Credit: SK MOHAN

Former Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) leader and Taliparamba MLA TK Govindan refused to comment on Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s remarks against him at Mayyil in Kannur, Keralam on 30 August.

Officials in Mr. Govindan’s office told The Hindu on Monday that he would not want to comment on them at this time.

Mr. Vijayan is scheduled to address another public meeting in Taliparamba on Monday evening. Mr. Govindan is expected to respond to the remarks made against him after the meeting, his office staff said.

At the Mayyil meeting, the former chief minister asked the cadres to “realize their mistake” and work to strengthen the party.

“Some of you would repent for electing an opportunist like TK Govindan. I mean the LDF supporters who voted for Mr. Govindan. They should realize the party sentiments and take a right political stand. An opportunist like Mr. Govindan won here and we were defeated across Keralam. We accept the defeat as necessary. But Mr. Taliparam needs to be seen. victory forever It’s time for the party to move moving forward in unison,” said Mr. Vijayan.

KK Ragesh, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary, also slammed Mr. Govindan at the meeting, calling him the “Brute of Taliparamba” and a “class traitor”.

Mr Govindan, a former CPI(M) district secretariat member, rebelled against the party’s decision to field PK Shyamala, wife of CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, from Taliparamba. He was subsequently expelled from the party.

Mr. Govindan later contested the 2026 assembly polls with the support of the United Democratic Front and won from Taliparamba.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 13:19 IST