CPM blames organizational weakness for poll rout, says there was no anti-incumbency

Thiruvananthapuram: An all-pervasive organizational weakness coupled with the failure to effectively counter the anti-govt narratives together contributed to the colossal setback LDF faced in the assembly election, the CPM state committee observed. The committee which discussed the election review report prepared by the party state secretariat, said there was no anti-incumbency against the govt, and the party committees were ultimately responsible for the loss.

The committee also decided to collect public opinion on how the CPM should conduct itself in the future as a course correction to avoid similar setbacks. The review report was prepared based on discussions in over 40,000 committees of CPM.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan told a news conference that the committee never pointed fingers against any individual, including former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the setback. Instead, the comrades unanimously admitted the weakness that infested the organizational body of the party. As part of this, the state committee acknowledged the Kannur district committee’s admission that there were lapses in the selection of candidates in Taliparamba and Payyannur seats, where the CPM rebels won.

LDF’s loss was amplified by a secret deal between UDF and BJP, an allegation the CPM had been raising even before the election. BJP-UDF deal was visible in 30 constituencies, and the BJP could win three seats with the secret support extended to it by UDF. IUML and Jamat-e-Islami tried their best to stoke up communal fervour for electoral gain and the efforts they made to encourage identity politics also worked against the LDF, the committee report approved by the state committee said.

Govindan said the party has found out that resentment among workers in traditional sectors like coir, cashew and handloom worked against the LDF as the govts could not fully address their long-pending issues. The committee members unanimously shared a feeling that the govt and party failed to effectively drive home their stand towards the anti-Muslim statements by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.

Govindan said the CM and CPM never subscribed to the hate statements of Natesan but the party and govt failed to cement that point. The review report approved by the state committee also said the Global Ayyappa Sangamam backfired on the govt. There was a wrong impression that the Sangamam was organised by the govt, not devaswom board. It courted unnecessary controversy by reading a message by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath at the event.

The report also admitted that public sentiments turned against CPM as it did not initiate action against devaswom board former president A Padmakumar during the initial phase of the Sabarimala gold heist controversy, Govindan said, adding that the CPM lost votes from all sections but it would be wrong to hold any community or section solely responsible for the setback.