CPM central committee to begin on Friday; 'corrective treatment' likely to be introduced in Kerala 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While severe criticism was raised against the Chief Minister, party state secretary and the Left Front convener in the CPM state and district committees over the party's heavy defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, a three-day review meeting of the CPM central committee will begin on Friday in Delhi. Earlier, the central committee had decided to conduct a deep investigation into the setbacks faced by the party, including in Kerala. The central committee is likely to introduce drastic corrective treatment, including issuing operational guidelines to the party and government of the state.

The central committee will also consider the review reports given by the state committees. The state committee in Kerala will present a report detailing the criticisms voiced at the state and district levels. The central leadership is concerned about the collapse of the party's popular base in Kerala and the anti-government sentiment in the state. The fact that the BJP has opened its account in the state and the increase in its vote share is also being looked upon seriously by the CPM central committee.

The leadership cannot ignore the selfless warnings of the party relatives and supporters of the Left that Kerala will also head in the same direction as Bengal and Tripura if this situation continues.

Pinarayi lost his infallibility

The general assessment of the political centres is that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has lost the infallibility that he had in the party and the government. Severe criticism was raised against the Chief Minister's behaviour and working style in most of the district committees. CPM state secretary MV Govindan was also criticised for supporting the CM. Meanwhile, many CPM members see the rising questioning capacity in the party as a good sign. There is also a strong feeling in the party that EP Jayarajan should be removed from the position of LDF convener.