CPI(M) politburo deliberates Kerala loss, Vijayan role
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 26 (IANS) The two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Politburo, which began on Friday in the national capital, assumes unusual significance as the party confronts the fallout of its worst electoral setback in Kerala, the only state where it had remained in power until the recent Assembly elections.
While the leadership is expected to review the reasons for the defeat, the central question before the party remains whether it will finally fix political responsibility for the debacle or continue to paper over internal differences that have surfaced since the results.
In the weeks following the defeat, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby had encouraged party members to speak openly during a series of organisational meetings at the state and national levels. What followed, however, exposed deep divisions within the party.
A significant section of the cadre is understood to have attributed the electoral setback to the style of governance and functioning of the decade-long government led by Pinarayi Vijayan.
State secretary M.V. Govindan, too, came under criticism over the party’s organisational handling of the campaign and its disconnect with grassroots workers.
The controversy deepened when reports emerging from these discussions reportedly omitted many of the critical observations directed at Vijayan and Govindan.
The exclusion has left sections of the party dissatisfied, with some leaders privately arguing that the introspection exercise would lose credibility unless uncomfortable conclusions were also acknowledged.
Against this backdrop, a meeting involving Baby, Vijayan and Govindan was held ahead of the Politburo deliberations to assess the political situation and chart the course for the discussions.
Party sources indicate that there are differing views within the Politburo itself, particularly over the decision to entrust Vijayan — who led the party into the electoral defeat — with the responsibility of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
The meeting is also expected to deliberate on the political implications of the Enforcement Directorate’s ongoing investigation involving Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena, in the CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case.
Veena was questioned for a second time this week, and the ED has indicated that further interrogation may follow.
While the leadership has publicly described the investigation as politically motivated, party insiders acknowledge that the developments have generated unease within sections of the top leadership.
The outcome of the two-day Politburo meeting is therefore likely to shape not only the CPI(M)’s strategy for rebuilding after its Kerala setback but also the future political role of Pinarayi Vijayan within the party’s national and state leadership.
–IANS
sg/dpb