Kannur: Though the position of the Kerala faction on the party's relationship with Congress has got an upper hand, it is still unclear how it will be defined in the crucial upcoming polls.

Will the party completely avoid Congress in the electoral field, especially in states where Congress is strong?

2024 General Elections and upcoming Assembly elections are the biggest challenges in front of the national parties. With money and power, BJP is putting forward a good show everywhere. However, opposition unity will be crucial in the polls.

Congress is the major opposition in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, states which go to poll by end of this year. CPM has nothing much to do in Gujarat. While in HP, the lone seat of the party (Thoeg) is due to an understanding with opposition parties, including Congress.

In 2023, the terms of Karnataka, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana assembly get over. Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh elections are along with the 2024 General Elections. How will Congress and CPM react to the opposition alliance in these states will be interesting to watch.

CPM's effort to keep Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin in the fray has succeeded. DMK was a resort for the party in 2019 when it was reduced to just one seat in the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala. It got two seats from Tamil Nadu. CPM needs a minimum of 13 MPs in 2024 in the lower house to maintain the national party status. Situations in Tripura and West Bengal are not in favour of the party. The remaining chances, with the help of opposition parties, are in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Odisha. But will the party shake hands with Congress in these states? Aligning with democratic, secular and Left forces nationally is part of the political line of CPM. Where Congress stands in this is the question to be answered.