‘No need to worry about democracy’: BJP state president’s article in CPI mouthpiece ‘Janayugam’ Onam edition

Thiruvananthapuram – A politically charged article by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, published in Janayugam—the official mouthpiece of the ruling LDF ally CPI—has sparked controversy and internal dissent within the party. The article, featured in the Onam special edition, claims there is no cause for concern regarding the state of democracy in India. In contrast, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam’s article in the same issue raises alarms about an ongoing democratic crisis, highlighting starkly opposing perspectives on the nation’s political climate.

India’s independence is the result of a 190-year-long anti-colonial struggle. As independent India moves from a past shaped by struggle towards a future full of hope, it must be guided by the Constitution. The objective of that journey is clearly laid out in the Preamble—to establish a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. Now, as the nation marks 75 years of independence, the people—creators of the Constitution—are witnessing these ideals being undermined and India’s journey being derailed, according to Binoy Viswam.

He further pointed out that those responsible for this betrayal of democratic values are ironically the very people who claim to be patriots. Viswam asserts that contemporary India is forced to navigate through socially and politically engineered conflicts.

On the other hand, Rajeev Chandrasekhar wrote that despite the diversity in India, the smooth functioning of democratic institutions is a testament to the strength of the Constitution. While acknowledging that mistakes—sometimes deliberate—do occur within these processes, he stated that the BJP has always been committed to addressing such issues and ensuring transparent elections.

He also claimed that it was the BJP that first raised concerns over inconsistencies in the draft voter list and ward delimitation in the recent local body elections in Kerala, and that the party took the lead in seeking resolutions

Notably, Rajeev Chandrasekhar was the only non-CPI contributor featured in the edition. CPI leadership has clarified that the editorial board was responsible for the publication. However, the inclusion of his article has sparked internal dissent within the CPI.