The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala has pointed to internal overconfidence as the primary cause for the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) surprising underperformance in the recently concluded Local Self-Government (LSG) institution elections. The party's state secretary, M V Govindan, detailed this analysis following a crucial state committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram.
Reasons Behind the Electoral Setback
Addressing the media, Govindan outlined a multi-pronged assessment. He stated that an atmosphere of undue confidence, partly stemming from the state government's decisions on October 29, permeated the LDF ranks. This was compounded by specific organizational weaknesses in urban pockets, which adversely affected the front's performance.
However, Govindan was quick to dismiss any significant anti-incumbency sentiment against the state government, asserting it was doing an excellent job. Instead, he trained his focus on the opposition. He accused the United Democratic Front (UDF), the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and a section of the media of running a coordinated misinformation campaign.
The Sabarimala Gold Heist Narrative
A significant part of this campaign, according to the CPM leader, revolved around the Sabarimala gold heist case. Govindan alleged that false narratives and cooked-up claims were peddled to wrongly implicate the CPM. He claimed the BJP and UDF attempted to spread communal fervour using this issue and pumped huge amounts of money into the election.
Yet, Govindan argued that the impact of this campaign was limited. If it had resonated statewide, the BJP would have gained more votes and seats, he contended. As evidence, he pointed out that the LDF managed to wrest control of the Pandalam municipality from the NDA, an area closely connected to Sabarimala.
Silver Linings and the Road to 2026
Despite the setback, the CPM state secretary highlighted several positive indicators for the ruling front. He emphasized that the LDF successfully checked the rise of the BJP in Kerala. Although the NDA fielded more candidates, its progress was not significant, with only a marginal increase in vote share.
Govindan presented crucial data to bolster confidence: The LDF's vote share rose from 33.6% in the last Parliament elections to 39.73% in the LSGI polls. This translates to over 17 lakh additional votes compared to the parliamentary elections, giving the LDF a clear lead in 60 assembly segments.
Reiterating allegations, Govindan claimed that the BJP and UDF resorted to cross-voting tactics to defeat LDF candidates across the state.
Corrective Measures and Future Plans
Determined to course-correct, the CPM has announced a series of organizational actions. The party will conduct intensive house visits in all wards from January 15 to 22, followed by open discussions on public issues and family meetings.
On the political front, the CPM plans to intensify protests against the BJP-led central government. Specific programmes will be organized to protest against the alleged move to scrap the rural employment guarantee scheme.
Concluding on a defiant note, Govindan expressed the state unit's confidence in addressing the factors that led to the LSG poll setback. The CPM firmly believes that no threat can derail its mission to secure a third consecutive win in the 2026 Kerala assembly elections.
