Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP has Narendra Modi and the Congress has Rahul Gandhi as national icons. Their roadshows and rallies energise campaigns for their respective parties in Kerala’s closely fought Assembly elections.
But for the LDF, the entire campaign is centred around its home-grown captain — Chief Minister and CPI(M) stalwart Pinarayi Vijayan.
Fastidious, astute and meticulous, the 81-year-old Vijayan remains the most trusted and influential voice within the LDF.
Several senior CPI(M) leaders, including party general secretary M. A. Baby and politburo members from the central leadership, are also active on the campaign trail. Yet, in the LDF’s scheme of things — and particularly in the perception of party workers — none commands the stature that Vijayan does.
Vijayan has been criss-crossing the state since the very beginning of the campaign. He hit the road immediately after filing his nomination papers from his home constituency Dharmadam in Kannur district, from where he was comfortably elected in 2016 and 2021.
He spends relatively little time campaigning in his own constituency.
The LDF has a tried-and-tested chief ministerial face in Vijayan, in sharp contrast to the UDF, which is contesting without projecting any leader for the top post.
Vijayan has a distinct style of electioneering, devoid of flamboyance and rhetorical excess.
Measured in both tone and movement, he conveys his message with quiet efficiency, avoiding rabble-rousing. At the same time, he can be firm and combative when countering attacks from political rivals.
Economic development and social welfare, underpinned by political and policy continuity, form the core of the LDF’s campaign narrative.
Since assuming office in 2016, Vijayan has maintained a firm grip over both the party and the government, lending coherence and direction to the LDF’s campaign.
However, this leader-centric model also carries risks in Kerala’s bipolar political landscape.
Opposition parties have a clear target in Vijayan, holding him personally accountable for perceived failures during the LDF’s two consecutive terms in power.
Critics within the broader Left ecosystem argue that Vijayan’s dominance reflects a personality-driven model that could weaken internal democratic processes within the party over time.
CPI(M) leaders, however, reject such criticism, asserting that Vijayan has consistently upheld collective decision-making within the party.
Hailing from a modest background, Vijayan’s political outlook was shaped by his early life experiences. The communist movement, which had strong roots in his village, influenced his ideological development from a young age.
He rose steadily through the party ranks, beginning his political journey during his college years.
Before contesting from Dharmadam in 2016, Vijayan had been elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1970, 1977, 1991, and 1996, representing different constituencies in the CPI(M) stronghold of Kannur district.
A turning point in his political career came in 1998, when he became the CPI(M) state secretary with the support of veteran leader V. S. Achuthanandan.
However, over time, Vijayan consolidated his own position within the party, eventually emerging as its undisputed leader and chief ministerial face.
A hat-trick victory would further strengthen Vijayan’s political stature. Conversely, a defeat could mark a turning point in his long political career.
