Amid the continuing debate within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] following its election setback in Kannur district, the party’s district secretariat on Thursday criticised campaigns using photographs and names of senior leaders after fresh flex boards demanding leadership changes appeared in the Dharmadam and Taliparamba Assembly constituencies.

The district secretariat said attempts were being made to defame the party by circulating flex boards and publicity materials featuring senior leaders on social media platforms. In a statement, it said such campaigns were turning into weapons in the hands of political opponents after the party’s electoral defeat.

The statement came after new flex boards supporting senior CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan and former party State secretariat member M. Swaraj for leadership roles surfaced in Kurumathur in the Taliparamba constituency and in Kadamboor panchayat under caretaker Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Dharmadam constituency.

At Kurumathur

A flex board erected at Kurumathur endorsed the appointment of Mr. Jayarajan as the district secretary and Mr. Swaraj as the State secretary.The boards were put up in the name of “Kurumathur Sakhagal.” Alongside photographs of Mr. Jayarajan and Mr. Swaraj, the flex also carried the image of former Chief Minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad. The board carried a message stating that leaders became leaders by serving the people and that people would reject leaders who moved away from public service.

Another flex board appeared at Aadur in Kadamboor panchayat with the slogan: “Call P. Jayarajan, save the party.”

In its statement, the district secretariat said the CPI(M) had an established organisational mechanism to study electoral setbacks, rectifying shortcomings and return stronger. It pointed out that State secretary M. V. Govindan had already announced that detailed discussions involving party members would be held on the election defeat.

The statement further noted that the CPI(M) had overcome more difficult phases in the past and emerged stronger. It urged party sympathisers and members to refrain from excessive reactions and social media, stating that such activities would not benefit the party at a time when internal discussions on the election defeat had begun.

Jayarajan’s stance

Mr. Jayarajan publicly distanced himself from the glorification campaigns and criticised efforts to demean sections of the party leadership through social media.

In a Facebook post, he urged supporters to stop such campaigns. He said opinions and criticism should be communicated through internal party mechanisms rather than through open social media campaigns.

“Avoid open discussions through social media. Communicate opinions and criticisms to the party leadership and encourage internal party discussions,” Mr. Jayarajan said in his appeal to the party workers.