Assembly deputy leader's post row: CPI reiterates stand, says Pinarayi Vijayan cannot decide alone

The CPI has stepped up its criticism of Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan over the appointment of the Opposition deputy leader, saying his stand violates alliance norms and weakens collective functioning within the LDF.

CPI state assistant secretary Sathyan Mokeri criticised Vijayan in an article published in the party mouthpiece, saying the attitude of “I will decide; everything is me” was not appropriate for a Communist leader.

The CPI is the second-largest constituent of the Opposition LDF, making its demand for the deputy leader's post a significant issue within the alliance. 

CPI questions Vijayan's statement

Mokeri said Vijayan's remarks on the Opposition deputy leader amounted to a serious violation of alliance conventions and reflected a lack of the political ethics expected in coalition politics.

“Pinarayi Vijayan's statement on the Opposition deputy leader can only be viewed as a complete violation of alliance conventions and a lack of the ethics that should be upheld in alliance politics,” Mokeri wrote.

He said an alliance was a political arrangement involving multiple parties working towards common political objectives. Decisions affecting the alliance, he added, should therefore be taken through collective discussions.

“The attitude of ‘I will decide; everything is me’ is not conducive to the collective functioning of the alliance and is not appropriate for a Communist leader,” Mokeri wrote.

CPI proposal was under discussion

The CPI had proposed the post of Opposition deputy leader as part of efforts to ensure greater collective functioning within the LDF following its major setback in the Assembly election.

According to Mokeri, the CPI's proposal was being discussed at different levels when Vijayan made his statement on the appointment.

Vijayan had said at a press conference that appointing the Opposition deputy leader was only a matter of submitting a letter and that a CPM leader would be appointed to the post.

Mokeri said the statement effectively went beyond discussions that were still under way between the alliance partners.

'Vijayan cannot decide alone'

Mokeri maintained that the appointment of the Opposition deputy leader was a political issue and could not be decided by Vijayan alone.

He said discussions between the CPI and CPM were continuing and that the issue was also before the national leaderships of the two parties.

Mokeri also questioned whether unilateral announcements were appropriate at a time when the LDF was attempting to address differences and strengthen its functioning.

He said it was clear that Left politics was not what had prompted Vijayan to announce that the letter would be submitted.

Mokeri invokes Kodiyeri's approach

Mokeri also referred to the late CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan while discussing political ethics within the Left.

“The positions taken by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who was CPM state secretary, on matters of political ethics were warmly received by Kerala,” he wrote.

Mokeri said it was regrettable that the Opposition Leader had failed to demonstrate the political maturity that Communists should uphold while working within an alliance.

Binoy Viswam had earlier questioned Vijayan

The latest criticism comes after CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam also publicly questioned Vijayan's position, bringing the disagreement within the LDF into the open.

The dispute followed Vijayan's rejection of the CPI's demand for the Opposition deputy leader's post and his statement that the position would go to a CPM leader.

Viswam said a disputed issue such as the appointment should instead be resolved through bilateral discussions between the LDF partners.

He also expressed surprise at the reported remarks by Vijayan.

“If he has indeed said so, I am compelled to say that it is not a statement befitting the position he holds or his political maturity,” Viswam told the media.