CPM struggling to find excuse for Thrikkakara election loss

Kochi: CPM is struggling to cope with the reality of losing the Thrikkakara byelections. The presence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other key ministers for the election campaigning failed to convince the voters to opt for LDF candidate Jo Joseph, who lost by a mammoth margin of more than 25,000 votes.

It is learned that many in the LDF camp were eager to name a party member as the potential candidate for the election. However, the party opted to field a doctor, a failed tactic employed by the left front during the 2021 assembly polls in Thrikkakara. Back then, the party lost the seat by a margin of 14,329 votes against PT Thomas. Following this, the party suspended their Thrikkakara area secretary KD Vincent and District secretariat member CK Manishankar for the election failure. 

Fast forward to 2022, CPM has little excuse to table by claiming that vote share was decreased due to the presence of BJP and Twenty20. Additionally, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan evaluated the works of the 10 local committees himself during the election. It is suspected that the continued presence of outsiders, including ministers and other party leaders, has irked the voters. This further denied the local party leaders to coordinate the election campaigns adequately. 

LDF's plans to conduct campaigns based on religion and caste dynamics in the constituency also backfired. This was evident from the party's effort to woo the Christian voters to the left front. However, this met with wide criticism from within the party as well as the voters.