CPI(M) Idukki district committee blames State leadership for poll debacle

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Idukki district committee has raised serious criticisms against its State leadership over the party’s historic poll debacle in the district.

During a district committee meeting convened on Tuesday to review the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) total defeat, members stated that the State leadership’s decision to drop veteran CPI(M) leader M.M. Mani from contesting his stronghold of Udumbanchola directly triggered the record defeat of CPI(M) State secretariat member K.K. Jayachandran.

Committee members criticised the leadership’s implementation of the two-term limit exemption rules, pointing out that while some leaders were given waivers, Mr. Mani was excluded, creating severe confusion among voters.

Furthermore, the members noted that anomalies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls contributed heavily to the loss of the Udumbanchola seat. Following the defeat, Mr. Jayachandran admitted that the SIR process was indeed a factor in his loss.

The committee also highlighted that in the Idukki constituency, a major chunk of Kerala Congress (M) votes shifted to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), leading to the defeat of prominent LDF candidate Roshy Augustine. KC(M) district president Jose Palathinal later acknowledged that their traditional votes had shifted to the Congress in this election. In the Peerumade constituency, the committee alleged that a section of Communist Party of India (CPI) leaders deliberately abstained from campaign duties, resulting in a massive defeat there.

This election marks a devastating milestone for the Left in Idukki; after a 35-year gap, the LDF will have no MLA representing the district. The LDF had held Udumbanchola for the past 25 years and both Peerumade and Devikulam for the last 20 years. In this election cycle, the CPI(M) contested Devikulam and Udumbanchola, the CPI fought in Peerumade, and the KC(M) contested the Idukki and Thodupuzha seats—all of which were lost by huge margins.

Mani’s reaction

Meanwhile, reacting to the post-election scenario, Mr. Mani took a swipe at the newly elected UDF administration’s welfare promises, stating that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan should fund the promised free KSRTC rides for women out of his own pocket if needed. Speaking to the media in Idukki, Mani remarked that the public will wait and see how Chief Minister Satheesan delivers on his promises.

Mr. Mani further defended the top brass, stating there is no need to solely blame former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan or CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan for the LDF’s overall defeat in the Assembly elections. “It was an overall anti-incumbency wave, and there is no reason to target a single individual for the poll debacle,” Mr. Mani added.