'Change in leadership style is essential'; Issues not resolved in time, says K K Shailaja

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM leader and central committee member K K Shailaja said the CPM’s poll debacle in the last assembly elections is not a minor defeat. It is assessed that the party faced a major setback even in the party's strongholds. Shailaja's response is in an article in 'Chintha' titled 'return is essential'.

The defeat in the last three elections should be studied. Even those who stood firm have left the Left Front. Despite noticing the issues, no effort was taken to resolve them. A change in style of leaders and workers is essential. The language style, behavior and lifestyle should be examined.

The LDF shrunk from 99 seats to 35. Many constituent parties did not even get a single seat. They should be able to regain their old status. The BJP winning three seats is a serious matter. The setback in the elections is a worrying change. The article says that the problems were not resolved in a timely manner.

Shifting Shailaja from Mattanur to Peravoor constituency in the recent assembly elections had stoked a controversy. Shailaja had criticized that she was forced to contest from Peravoor constituency even though she did not want to contest and that everyone knew that she would not win. When contested from Mattannur in the last assembly election, K K Shailaja had won with a record majority. However, when she contested from Peravoor this time, there was a huge drop in the vote percentage.