'Strong anti-government sentiment and Sabarimala issue'; CPI trains guns on CPM, LDF meeting today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Communist Party of India (CPI) publicly admitted that anti-government sentiment in Kerala contributed to the setback LDF suffered in the local body polls.

In the wake of the heavy setback in the local body elections, it became curious that the state secretariats of the CPM and CPI took different stances.

While State Secretary M.V. Govindan was explaining the stance of the CPM state secretariat, the CPI state secretariat members were pointing fingers at Chief Minister Pinarayi.

CPI members blamed Anti-government sentiment and also Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s one-man army method of rule. CPI warned of a similar drubbing in the assembly elections if the issues remain unsolved.

The CPI will openly acknowledge the anti-government sentiment in the Left Front meeting to be held today. A detailed investigation will be demanded.

Meanwhile, the CPM state secretariat will assess if the party committed any lapse in the Sabarimala gold theft issue. Many CPM leaders implicitly acknowledged anti-government sentiment but refrained from expressing it publicly.

The lower units have been asked to conduct an election assessment and submit a report within two weeks. The decision will be taken after examining them in detail in the secretariat meeting on the 27th.

General Secretary MA Baby raised concern over the commanding win of UDF in the recent elections.

CPI’s main allegations:

1. The minority lost faith in the government after the cabinet went ahead with signing PM Shri. This forced the minority faction to support Congress.

2. Instead of taking action against Padmakumar, an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the attempt to trivialise the issue led to great anger among the believers.

3. The anger caused by the Chief Minister's authoritarian methods led to a heavy defeat.