After Politburo dressing down, Kerala CPI-M begins discussion on poll debacle

Thiruvananthapuram, May 13 (IANS) After the CPI-M Politburo gave a dressing down to Pinarayi Vijayan, the former Kerala Chief Minister finds himself at the centre of another intense political conversation, about whether he should take over as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.

All eyes remain fixed on the crucial three-day CPI-M state leadership’s three-day meeting that began here on Wednesday, where Vijayan is expected to face tough questions over the collapse of the party’s red bastions.

Political circles are abuzz over the veteran leader’s decision to quietly vacate the party-provided accommodation allotted to him at the CPI-M residential complex for senior leaders in the capital city.

Returning from Delhi the other day, Vijayan, along with his family, moved into a rented home, owned by a leading businessman, in the heart of the state capital.

The move has immediately fuelled speculation that Vijayan may indeed continue in frontline politics by formally taking over as Leader of the Opposition, despite whispers within sections of the CPI-M that the former Chief Minister could gradually withdraw after the dressing down he reportedly received at the Politburo meeting in Delhi.

The significance of the shift has not gone unnoticed in Kerala’s political corridors.

Had Vijayan intended to retreat from active politics, many believed he would have continued at the party accommodation or opted for a quieter political existence.

Instead, the relocation to an upscale private home is being interpreted as a signal that he is preparing for an extended innings in opposition politics.

More importantly, CPI-M insiders believe Vijayan could use the official residence allotted to the Leader of the Opposition primarily as a political office rather than a family residence.

The symbolism is politically striking because the very same official residence was, until recently, occupied by V. D. Satheesan, the Congress leader who relentlessly cornered Vijayan during the previous Assembly term and is now himself among the strongest contenders for Kerala’s Chief Ministership.

Yet within the CPI-M, the debate is far from settled.

Critics continue to blame Vijayan’s centralised style, personality-driven campaign and perceived promotion of family influence for the party’s defeat.

Whether the state meetings deepen that rebellion or help Vijayan reassert control could determine not merely his own future, but the direction of Kerala CPI-M in the post-defeat era.

–IANS

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