The CPI(M)’s Kozhikode course-correction meet stopped short of an immediate leadership shake-up after its Kerala election defeat, but changes in key organisational bodies and a wider rectification drive point towards a gradual reset.
Thiruvananthapuram: While acknowledging that the ideological and organisational crisis gripping the party is serious, the Kerala CPI(M)’s course-correction huddle, which concluded this week in Kozhikode, chose to refrain from taking the risk involved in an immediate shake-up.
The meet, held under the oversight of the party Polit Bureau, however, effected a minor rejig of its key decision-making bodies, aimed at making the organisation’s functioning a bit more inclusive and democratic.
The party was forced to go in for introspection after the massive defeat it suffered in the Assembly elections, triggering an unprecedented crisis of confidence across the organisational spectrum.
Even as the party top brass, including former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, came under severe attack at the three-day extended state committee meet, the collective wisdom that prevailed at the end of the day was that drastic action at this juncture would do more harm than good.
Though Vijayan has personally been spared any action, analysts point out that the meet has set the path for an eventual leadership change, possibly coinciding with the party’s triennial multi-tier organisational meetings and elections due next year.
Though 81-year-old Vijayan, who emerged as Leader of the Opposition despite the worst-ever electoral debacle suffered under his stewardship, has been left untouched, he may no longer be in a position to dictate terms as before. This is evident from the induction of Kannur strongman P. Jayarajan as one of the new members of the party state secretariat.
A senior functionary, Jayarajan has often taken positions that did not go well with Vijayan’s style of functioning. However, he has been a firm believer in the dynamism of the party to resolve crises through internal processes.
The incumbent state secretary, M. V. Govindan, has, however, been formally censured, an unusual disciplinary action against a sitting state secretary. The action followed criticism over his statements and handling of political issues that had reportedly put the party on the defensive.
The state secretariat has also been rejigged with the induction of P. Jayarajan, M. B. Rajesh and V. Sivankutty. John Brittas will also work in close conjunction with the secretariat.
The party has sought to widen representation in its state-level structure by bringing in younger leaders and women. Susan Kodi has been inducted into the state committee, while nine others have been made permanent invitees to the body.
These decisions reflect a reassertion of authority by the party’s central leadership in organisational matters. Apart from party General Secretary M. A. Baby, senior Polit Bureau leaders were present to oversee the proceedings.
The Polit Bureau contingent present at the meet signalled to the delegates at the very outset that they could express their sentiments freely and fearlessly. This assurance dismantled the guardrail set by the entrenched clique around Vijayan to insulate him from attack.
To his great solace, the party, however, pledged solidarity with Vijayan over the ongoing probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) relating to the pay-off allegations involving his daughter T. Veena. Going a step further, one of the resolutions adopted by the meet called for opposition parties to come together against what the CPI(M) described as the misuse of central agencies by the BJP-led Union Government.
The meet also decided to take the ‘rectification process’ down the organisational tiers in the coming days, besides launching programmes to shore up and strengthen the party’s support base through campaigns relating to live issues, especially those concerning the youth.
The party will also reactivate its youth, women and campus outfits to ramp up public engagement, besides mobilising the ranks through mass campaigns against the Congress-led UDF government in the state. Moving into action mode is essential for the party to keep its card-holding members down the tiers, as well as its wider support base, engaged.
Having set the context for reforms at the Kozhikode meet, the immediate task before the state party apparatus, infused with fresh vigour, is to move quickly to reconfigure the organisation to carry out its role as a credible opposition bloc in the only state where the Left still matters.
