In a significant post-poll analysis, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) state leadership has firmly dismissed the notion that anti-incumbency was responsible for the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) mixed performance in the recent local body elections in Kerala. The party has expressed strong confidence in securing a historic third consecutive term in the 2026 state assembly elections.
CPM Stands Firm on Principles, Rules Out Opportunistic Alliances
Addressing the media at the AKG Centre in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday, CPM state secretary M V Govindan declared that the party's political foundation remains unshaken. He emphatically stated that the CPM would not alter its long-standing political principles or enter into any tactical alliances with its traditional opponents, even to block the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"No communist changes his politics based on success or failure in elections. CPM has never deviated from its principles. The party is not ready to engage in horse-trading to gain power," Govindan asserted. This statement came as a direct rebuttal to swirling rumours about a potential LDF-UDF (United Democratic Front) understanding against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in municipalities like Palakkad and Tripunithura.
Dissecting the Verdict: Sabarimala, BJP Gains, and a Call for Introspection
Govindan presented a multi-faceted analysis of the election results. He downplayed the impact of the Sabarimala gold smuggling case on the LDF's prospects, arguing that if BJP's campaign on the issue had truly resonated, the party would have secured more seats. "But the results show BJP lost several seats and its performance in grama, block and district panchayats was abysmal," he noted.
He characterised the BJP's celebration over winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as "unrealistic," claiming it was the only significant gain for the party. Govindan accused the UDF of indirectly gifting victories to the BJP in several wards by putting up a poor fight, as part of a strategy to oust the LDF from power.
Furthermore, the CPM leader alleged that "minority and majority communal forces colluded against LDF" in these polls. Despite this, he highlighted that the LDF retained its strength in the three-tier panchayat system and maintained an upper hand in rural areas of even major districts like Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, where it lost municipal corporations.
Internal Review and Corrective Steps on the Agenda
Acknowledging the need for a thorough review, Govindan announced that party committees from the local to district levels would conduct a detailed study to pinpoint the reasons behind the setback. The state leadership will then convene to discuss these findings and initiate necessary corrective measures.
Echoing the need for introspection, the Communist Party of India (CPI), a key constituent of the LDF, also called for urgent corrective steps. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam stated that his party would study all factors, including the potential electoral impact of the Sabarimala gold scam.
In conclusion, the CPM leadership has framed the local body results not as a rejection of the government's performance, which it termed "exemplary," but as a complex political challenge. The party is now channeling its efforts towards understanding the nuanced voter sentiment and consolidating its base for the larger battle in 2026.
