Thiruvananthapuram: Finally, the CPM has accepted their failure to understand the pulse of the populace. While speaking to reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after the state committee and secretariat meetings on Thursday, CPM state secretary MV Govindan has said that CPM and LDF had failed to understand the mindset of the people which led to a massive defeat in the recently held lok sabha elections. 

“The limitations of Kerala politics in comparison with the larger picture of national politics, was another reason for the defeat of LDF in the state. Besides this, the intervention of RSS regarding caste politics and identity politics had also played a crucial part in taking away a major chunk of CPM votes”, Govindan said.   

“Though we knew the reasons which had played a part in our defeat beforehand, we thought we would be able to win the contest. This means that, we had failed to understand the attitude of the people. That’s what we have come to know through our detailed examination of the situation. CPM workers and leaders should be able to work among the people and should become one of them so that they could effectively intervene in the problems of the people”, he said. 

“It is a fact that the LDF could not achieve a result which we had expected. Moreover, we had suffered a big loss. The most dangerous thing is that BJP could win a seat as well”, Govindan said.

“The people of politically elite Kerala always discuss the national politics in detail. Naturally, when an election was conducted to form a government at the centre, the people of Kerala would think nationally, which had an adverse impact on our chances in the election. The main reason behind our loss was the limitation of Kerala politics when compared with the national picture. The same had happened in 2019 also. This time also, we could not reverse the trend”, he said. 

“Apart from all these factors, the league-congress alliance had formed a secret alliance with communal elements like Jamaat e Islami, Popular Front and SDPI to create communal polarisation in the society to reap electoral benefits. Though they have won, this is a dangerous trend which would disrupt the secular content of Kerala. It will have far reaching consequences on our society. To fight against this, all secular forces should unite against this unholy alliance”, Govindan said. 

“The situation was so hostile to us that different caste groups and organisations working in connection with identity politics had bowed before communal elements. With the formation of BDJS under Thushar Vellappally,  BJP was able to infiltrate into SNDP. And a group inside SNDP, which works with a communal agenda, had actively worked for BJP during this election”, CPM state secretary said.  

 “More importantly, a section of christians, who always took a stand against Hindutva agenda, had taken a stand favourable to BJP, this time. Some of the bishops had even participated in the programmes organised by the BJP as well. Besides using caste groups to create communal polarisation, the opposition had also used religious groups too” he said. 

 “Now, CPM has decided to approach the people with more alertness and seriousness. The central government and opposition have been taking an anti-Kerala stand for some time now. The benefits deserved by common people are being consistently denied. Though it could be said that the problem of financial crisis faced by the state is in connection with the central government’s negligence, it was reflected in this election. The right wing media of the state too had played a crucial role in creating a negative image of the government and the party before the public. They had  consistently and deliberately criticised the party, government and the  chief minister with an eye to isolate Pinarayi Vijayan. They have been continuing it even now. We have found out that the media campaign had played a great role in influencing the people to a great extent”, Govindan said.