CPM launches rare tirade against CM Pinarayi Vijayan; leaders seek course correction

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state leadership meeting on Wednesday severely criticized the working style of LDF leaders including CM Pinarayi Vijayan. This gives the sign of LDF adopting a course correction following the election debacle. The hitherto unseen criticism against CM Pinarayi Vijayan comes after the party reported vote leak even from stronghold constituencies.

According to the report presented by the state secretary MV Govindan in the state committee meeting, the detachment of Ezhava and other backward classes from LDF wreaked much embarrassment in the elections for CPM. More worrying is the erosion of core voters of the party.

The Pinarayi government's excessive minority appeasement and approach of ousting the backwards-scheduled sections from the top positions of the administration have backfired on both the government and the Front. The people saw the campaign, including the Chief Minister's, to make the Citizenship Amendment Act, as an act to cover up the government's failures. The feeling that the Pinarayi government is turning its back on the caste census, which is considered useful for the social justice of the backward people, also made people think otherwise.

This is one such rare criticism against CM Pinarayi Vijayan since his rise to power as the state secretary in 1998 and in administration since 2016.

CPM state committee openly criticized the present government as 'Chief Minister and 19 shadows'. In the discussion on the report presented by State Secretary MV Govindan, some members openly expressed dismay over the current government’s performance.

1. Anti-incumbency sentiments and the Chief Minister's stances at times have been cited by many as the cause of the miserable defeat in the elections.

2. The government is not living up to the expectations of the party either. Criticisms are pointed out but there is no correction. The party should evaluate the performance of the government comprehensively.

3. Even district leaders are accused in corruption cases. With the promise of backing from party leadership, these people engage in more such corruption.