Kozhikode: At the famed red fortress in Kannur, the most damaging blow to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) came from within. Two septuagenarian rebels, V Kunhikrishnan and TK Govindan, triggered an unprecedented internal revolt and delivered defeats that shook the party to its core.
Upsets Expose Deep Fissures
The upsets by UDF-backed independents in Payyannur and Taliparamba exposed deep fissures within the CPM. More than the electoral losses, the results amounted to a public indictment of the leadership by its own cadres. Kunhikrishnan, a former district committee member, defeated CPM MLA TI Madhusoodanan by overturning his 49,780 vote margin secured in 2021 in Payyannur, a constituency that has only elected CPM candidates since 1967.
His book, 'Cadres should correct the leadership', released just months before the elections, proved prophetic as party workers did just that. They used ballots to register their protest and uphold the charges of fund misappropriation that Kunhikrishnan had raised against Madhusoodanan.
Parallel Narrative in Taliparamba
A parallel narrative unfolded in Taliparamba, where expelled leader TK Govindan defeated CPM state secretary MV Govindan's wife, PK Shyamala, by a margin of 12,425 votes. The defeat was historic and a first since 1977. TK quit the party alleging that Shyamala's candidature reflected nepotism and bypassed established organizational processes. This charge seemed to have struck a chord with cadres.
The campaigns of the rebels were modest, and their direct outreach and credibility among cadres proved decisive. Kunhikrishnan visited homes with just four or five people. In contrast, the CPM ran a big campaign with multiple teams, roadshows, songs, and processions.
Near-Silent Campaign Gains Traction
Yet Kunhikrishnan's near-silent campaign steadily gained traction and created ripples among cadres. At the outset, even on social media, Madhusoodanan appeared to have the edge. But that changed as videos of Kunhikrishnan visiting homes and workplaces began to circulate and drew a strong public response. Gradually, Kunhikrishnan surged ahead online. Apart from a few joint roadshows with UDF leaders, he avoided conventions and loud rallies. He also ran a notably low-cost campaign.
He contested without a formal election committee office, something unheard of for a major candidate. When his campaign faced provocations such as the burning of a supporter's bike or the destruction of publicity materials, he and his followers did not react aggressively. Though the CPM leadership was aware of the support he enjoyed within the party, it underestimated the scale of that support.
Sympathy Within Party Ranks
Many who publicly campaigned for Madhusoodanan may have sympathized with Kunhikrishnan. The results suggest that sections close to party loyalists and martyr families did not back the official line. Though the CPM disproportionately concentrated its party machinery in Taliparamba by roping in senior leaders to campaign in the constituency, cadres seemed to have voted with a vengeance.
"I contested elections as part of a struggle. The only point that I raised was that cadres should come forward to correct the leadership. My victory today reflects the strong feelings among cadres to force the party to correct its mistakes," said Kunhikrishnan, adding that he hopes the result will prompt the CPM to make corrections.
Jayan P V, who stood by TK during his campaign, said, "M V Govindan won the seat by a margin of 22,689 votes last time. It was party workers who flipped. For instance, in Pariyaram panchayat where he won by 3,000 votes last time, TK won by 1,700 votes. In Mayyil panchayat, the margin of the CPM candidate was just 99 votes."
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