With the passing of Sitaram Yechuri, who was often seen taking a pro-Congress line, and the acting General Secretary Prakash Karat toeing the line of the Kerala unit of the CPI-M of strongly opposing Congress, things are in favour of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The next CPI-M Party Congress will be held in Madurai in April, for which the party’s state-wide meetings have all commenced.
Over the years, with the CPI-M in West Bengal and Tripura getting pushed out of the main political scenario in those states, the mantle is on Vijayan and the Kerala unit of the party to go forward.
According to sources, at its leader’s meeting held in Delhi recently, this was the focal point of discussion and the broad agreement was the party, though part of the INDIA Block, need not show any more mercy to the Congress party in Kerala and has decided to take on none other than Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his sister, the candidate at the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election slated for November 13.
The broad consensus was that the CPI-M would be treating both Congress and BJP as its political opponents in Kerala.
A political critic on the condition of anonymity said that CPI-M will have to play its cards very well as Kerala is its last bastion and any wrong move would be disastrous for the party.
“The election results to the April Lok Sabha elections is the writing on the wall for CPI-M as BJP has been able to move forward in its vote share and like in West Bengal and Tripura, BJP gained when CPI-M became weak and in Kerala -- the first signs of it happened when the second biggest ally of the BJP-led NDA the BDJS making ground,” said the critic, and added that if the CPI-M has to claw back, it has to take a very strong anti-Congress position.
At the April Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led NDA made a gain of 2.60 per cent votes, with CPI-M-led Left’s share declining by 2.95 per cent and the Congress-led UDF came down by 2.27 per cent.
Traditionally in Kerala, the Hindu Ezhava community, especially in the southern and central districts of the state has always aligned with the CPI-M and the first signs that things are not that rosy was seen, when the BJP-led NDA candidates making steady gains in these areas.
Now with Karat at the helm, who is considered close to Vijayan, unlike Yechuri, it remains to be seen if the next party General Secretary will be from Kerala and as matters stand, it cannot be ruled out as Vijayan continues to hold sway.
Union Minister Prahlad Joshi asks FCI officials in Agartala to ensure efficient food storage; reviews implementation of Central schemes in Tripura
The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, food and Public distribution and new and renewable energy Prahlad Joshi, who landed here at Agartala on a two-day visit to Tripura on Saturday chaired a review meeting to check the implementation of the Central government schemes.
Minister Sushanta Chowdhury rubbishes Manik Sarkar’s remark on Promo fest, says Left front fails to promote Tripura tourism
Reacting sharply on the remarks of the former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar over the Tripura tourism’s promo fest held recently across the state, the state tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Saturday said that the previous Left front government had failed to promote the Tripura tourism.
CM stresses need to stock rare blood groups, urges awareness on blood donation
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha today emphasized the need to store negative blood groups in blood banks and stressed the importance of creating awareness about blood donation.
PM Modi to address first Parivartan Rally on Dec 29 ahead of Delhi polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will kickstart its poll campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing his first Parivartan Rally on December 29 in Rohini.
PM Modi condoles Bathinda bus accident, announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to kin of deceased victims
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of all the eight persons who lost their lives in a tragic bus accident in Bathinda, Punjab.
Home Minister Amit Shah lauds ITBP personnel for protecting border areas
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday night praised the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel for safeguarding the border areas in challenging and difficult terrains and climates across the country.
Manipur: Assam Rifles provides training to over 600 to empower jobless individuals
Demonstrating its dauntless commitment towards empowering youths in violence-hit Manipur, the Assam Rifles has provided training to 660 men and women this year to upgrade their skills in various trades, officials said on Friday.
‘Outstanding statesman’: Putin mourns demise of Manmohan Singh
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday mourned the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, describing him as an “outstanding statesman”.