Binoy Viswam EXCLUSIVE! 'Correction is core to Communism; It is the way to success'

After the severe drubbing the Left Democratic Front received in Kerala in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, a number of fingers were raised against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his government. Voices from within the Communist Party of India, a major stakeholder in the LDF, even went to the extent of demanding that the party walk out of the alliance following the electoral humiliation. 

The brewing discontent within the CPI has been spilling over at the party's district council meetings. To understand how the party has been dealing with the views expressed by its leaders, senior jounalist Johny KA spoke to CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam. Here's what he had to say.

CPI district council meetings have raised serious concerns about the functioning of the present LDF government in the state. How do you look at this critique?

These meetings have been called as per the instructions of the state leadership of the party. The state executive and the state committee will deliberate on these reports and take a proper decision. That will be conveyed to the public and the LDF as well. We are always open to discussions and criticisms. We never close the door on introspections. Having said that, I must make it clear that the tendency to leak inside information to the media is unacceptable.

You are saying that the party is open to criticisms. But, on the other hand, you are making it obvious that the party will not tolerate any one leaking vital information to the media. Don't you think that there is a dichotomy in this approach?

People have the right to know. But, it is not the party's policy that every opinion raised by a party member inside the party should be shared with the public.

Are you warning the party cadres that those who indulge in such activities will have to face disciplinary action?

Our party will look into it. The motive of those who do this is questionable. It is obvious that they are doing this not to strengthen the party.

Isn't it the fundamental democratic duty of the CPI to tell the CPM that there is a need for course correction?

We will do that. But that decision has to be taken collectively. Different opinions will be raised within the party on an issue. But, it is wrong to present one opinion as the perspective of the party.

Is there any apprehension that such criticisms may upset the CPM?

It is not that. The CPM may also be doing such introspections. Correction is integral to the functioning of the Communist parties.

CPM state secretary M V Govindan has stated that his party will make necessary corrections in the wake of the Lok Sabha results. CPM politburo member Prakash Karat, too, has taken the same stand. Don't you think that the endorsement of this demand by the CPI will strengthen the democratic process in the state?

We had made it clear on June 4 itself that the setback in the Lok Sabha elections could never be justified in any way. We have no doubt that the people's verdict has to be analysed in its entirety and corrective steps should be taken to address the lacunae.

The media have reported that the CPI Ernakulam district council has alleged that the victory of the BJP in the Thrissur constituency was the result of a 'package' deal between the CPM and the BJP. This is a very serious allegation. What is your response?

Please don't interpret an opinion raised by a party member as the party's stand. We cannot raise such a concern in the absence of facts and data that could substantiate it. The state committee will look into all the reports filed by the district committees. We will come to the conclusions after in depth discussions and then we will tell the public what went wrong and how it should be corrected.

Will you present these conclusions in the LDF meeting as well?

Certainly. This is not the first time that the LDF and Communist parties suffered setbacks. We will have introspections and then we will go for necessary corrections.

It's true that this is not the first time that the Left has tasted defeat. But the present political scenario is very different from that of 2019. Then the Pinarayi government was not facing an image crisis, which is haunting it now. What is your take on this?

We will certainly assess the performance of this government. The functioning of the parties and the way the leaders are conducting themselves in the public will come under rigorous scrutiny. We will correct every wrong that has been committed.

When you say that there will be fundamental course correction, does that mean Pinarayi Vijayan, the CM of the Left government will be held accountable and he will have to go?

That is the interpretation of the media. It is your agenda. We know how to come to conclusions on the present political challenges. You need not strain much.

The problem is that there is no clarity on what should be corrected and who should correct it.

Correction has to take place on multiple levels. It is your perspective that it has only one meaning.

The CPI's Idukki district council has demanded that, if necessary, the CPI should leave the LDF. Does the party have such an agenda before it?

Our party has no compulsion to respond to such reports.

The CPI had an alliance with the Congress earlier. Your party had supported the Emergency, but regretted it later. The Congress of today is not the Congress of Emergency. It has moved towards the left under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. CPI is also part of the INDIA front. So, is there anything wrong if the party accepts an invitation from the Congress to join the UDF in Kerala?

Our party's policies are decided by the party congress. Neither the Idukki district council nor the state committee can take such decisive steps.

Do you expect that the CPM will take up corrective actions?

Correction is core to Communism. It is neither a weakness or failure. It is the way to success. I am sure that the CPM is as convinced of this as the CPI.

If the CPI comes to the conclusion that the present state government in Kerala should be changed, will you raise it in the LDF meeting?

This is your agenda. Please, don't impose your agenda on us. The CPI does not have any such stand.

You have justified the party's decision to send P P Suneer to the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the fact that he belongs to the minority community. Do the Communist parties have such a criterion while choosing a candidate?

Our stand is crystal clear on this issue. It is our party's official line that the minorities, the Dalits and the tribals must be encouraged and brought to the mainstream. We always stand by the minorities. But we will never accept the communal card if it is played by the minorities. P P Suneer has been working hard to nurture the party in the Malappuram district. He has fought many battles, which the party knew it would lose. He truly deserves a Rajya Sabha seat. Please do remember that the 18th Lok Sabha has the lowest share of Muslim MPs. There are currently 24 MPs (4.4 per cent) from the community which forms 14% of the Indian population. Suneer's Rajya Sabha membership is a part of our fight against this injustice.