Leak of party votes; CPM with corrective measures after defeat in election

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM is taking corrective measures after the heavy setback faced by LDF in the parliamentary elections. The CPM state secretariat meeting assessed that leakage of party votes contributed to the defeat. The election results of all 140 assembly constituencies will be checked on a constituency-wise basis. The appointment of an inquiry commission to look into the massive defeat even in the Left strongholds will also be considered. The party has decided to take further action after hearing the discussion in the state committee in detail. The secretariat will meet again after the three-day state committee. The State Secretariat will finalize the corrective action.

The five-day state leadership meetings of the party began yesterday at the AKG Center in the context of the argument being made by top CPM leaders themselves that anti-incumbency sentiment is the cause of the heavy backlash. The figures from the ward level regarding the defeat, submitted by the party district committees, were evaluated yesterday. Based on its findings, the remedies for the lapses and suggestions for rectification will be presented in the three-day state committee meeting starting on Wednesday. Open discussions on the backlash are likely to take place in state leadership meetings attended by CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, PB member Prakash Karat and central committee members from the state. The discussions will also include criticisms of the heavy defeat from the party's relatives and supporters.

The circumstances that have alienated some communities, which were the party's regular vote bank, from the party and the front and the growth of the BJP in the state and their alarming rise in vote share will be examined. It is indicated that the demand for the government to take steps to bring the common people closer to the party by streamlining the distribution of social welfare pensions was also raised in the meeting. The party's central committee meeting will discuss the analysis report of the state leadership meeting starting on the 26th.