CPI(M) set for 3-day brainstorming session to discuss election setback in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 1
The CPI(M) is heading for a crucial round of organisational discussions to assess the reasons for its setback in the Assembly elections, with the party’s special state committee meeting expected to witness a detailed examination of the factors behind the defeat.

The CPI(M)'s extended state committee meeting will take place in Kozhikode from September 13 to 15 under the watch of General Secretary M.A. Baby and nine politburo members.

The discussions assume significance as the party seeks to translate lessons from the election into corrective measures.

The central leadership has already underlined the need to examine the impact of anti-incumbency and the manner in which the campaign came to be identified closely with the government and its leadership.

However, former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has continued to maintain a different emphasis in his public interventions in Kannur.

At various programmes during his ongoing visit, he has sought to underline the organisational and political challenges faced by the party and its supporters, without conceding that the election result could be attributed solely to the performance of the government.

His observations have added interest to the discussions that are to take place in the state committee and subsequent extended meetings.

The party is expected to examine not only the electoral verdict but also the functioning of the organisation, its relationship with different sections of society and the factors that influenced voters at the grassroots.

The setback has already triggered discussions within the CPI(M) over the need for organisational strengthening and greater political intervention at the lower levels.

The focus is expected to be on identifying weaknesses rather than allowing the election result to remain merely a matter of electoral arithmetic.

The role of the state leadership and the manner in which the government’s performance was presented during the campaign are also likely to come under scrutiny.

At the same time, the party will have to assess the extent to which local-level organisational issues and dissatisfaction among sections of the cadre contributed to the result.

The coming meetings, therefore, are likely to provide the first comprehensive platform for the CPI(M) to collectively assess the electoral setback.

The role of M.A. Baby will be closely watched in ensuring that the review remains within the framework of the party’s organisational processes.

The discussions will also indicate the direction of the CPI(M)’s corrective exercise, whether the emphasis will be primarily on government performance, organisational renewal or a combination of both.

For a party accustomed to detailed post-election reviews, the forthcoming meetings could prove particularly important in defining its political and organisational course in Kerala.