Expanded state committee meeting to test strength of CPM dissenters

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM’s expanded state committee meeting, scheduled to be held in Kozhikode from September 13 to 15, is being viewed by the faction opposing the state leadership as a testing ground for its strength. Those dissatisfied with the leadership see the meeting as a “trial” for their efforts to gain control of the party at the 2028 state conference.

The dissenting group aims to bring together all those unhappy with the functioning of the state leadership. They are believed to have indirect support from the central leadership. Their main criticism is that the state leadership failed in both election and organisational activities, leaving the party inactive in several places.

Senior leaders who have been sidelined in various districts for different reasons are also expected to join the group. The expanded state committee is likely to witness sharp criticism of the leadership. Those opposing the leadership are demanding a change at the top, arguing that only such a move would convince the public that the party is serious about correcting its organisational shortcomings.

They argue that the party leaders have lost touch with the people. The reasons for the party’s electoral setbacks can be clearly understood by examining the functioning of its local units, they say. They also believe that a new leadership is needed to energise those waiting for the party to make an active comeback.

Even if the demand for a leadership change is rejected at the expanded state committee, the dissenters plan to keep the issue alive at the party conferences beginning in 2028. They see the upcoming meeting as a trial run for that effort. They believe Pinarayi Vijayan will step away from the party leadership by 2028 and are already preparing to demand a new leadership in his place.

The state leadership, however, maintains that there is no scope for a demand for leadership change at the expanded state committee. The current leadership was elected at the Kollam state conference and is expected to continue until the next conference, it says. There has been no situation warranting a change, according to the leadership. The leadership has already accepted responsibility for the electoral defeat and maintains that the expanded committee is being convened to discuss corrective measures.