LS poll debacle: CPM and CPI top brass on same page, diverge from CM Vijayan's stance

Thrissur: Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Binoy Viswam, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Kerala, spoke openly about the Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s setback in the recent Lok Sabha polls during their visit to Thrissur for the EMS memorial seminar on Thursday.

Yechury stated that the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections would be taken seriously, with assessments scheduled by the state committee and state secretariat on June 16. He added that this topic would also be discussed at the central committee meeting on June 28.

Yechury commented on the potential of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to serve as a strong opposition, predicting instability in the third Modi government. He also expressed condolences for the victims of the Kuwait fire tragedy.

Viswam emphasized the importance of self-criticism in defeat, clarifying that the CPI was not advocating for a change in leadership. "The electorate has clearly expressed their views through the elections. People expect the state government to address their issues seriously," he noted.

Viswam clarified that there would be no joint committee between CPM and CPI to evaluate the election defeat, highlighting the parties' fraternal relationship. He considered the defeat in Thrissur a significant lesson, urging secularists to reflect on the results with humility.

Similarly, CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan admitted to the party's exceptional defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. "We have faltered in these elections. It is futile to claim victory after such a defeat," Govindan stated during his inauguration of the national seminar 'The World of EMS' in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram on Thursday. He pointed out the need for thorough investigation and corrective measures within the party organization.

These remarks diverge from Pinarayi Vijayan’s perspective on the election outcome. Vijayan compared the erosion of votes between LDF and Congress, noting a greater decline for the UDF across Kerala. Vijayan provided a breakdown of the voting trends, noting that the LDF's total votes decreased by 4,92,000 from 71.56 lakh in 2019 to 66.64 lakh in 2024, while the UDF's votes fell by 6,12,000, dropping from 96.29 lakh to 90.17 lakh in 2024. He suggested that the UDF should investigate this decline, highlighting changes in Assembly constituency standings between 2019 and 2024.

In 2019, the BJP led in one Assembly constituency, with the UDF ahead in 123 and the LDF in 16. By 2024, the BJP was leading in 11 Assembly segments, while the UDF's count decreased to 111. The Chief Minister remarked, "Despite your significant victory, it's important to scrutinize this decrease in your share of the vote."