T.K. Govindan, who ended the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s [CPI(M)] hold on the Taliparamba constituency, said the verdict endorsed his stand, including his criticism of the erosion of inner-party democracy and rising family dominance in the party.

In an interaction with The Hindu, Mr. Govindan said support for his stand extended beyond Taliparamba and was evident in Payyannur and other parts of Kerala. “The electorate has affirmed that the stand I took was right. The backing for these ideas has been substantial, especially here,” he said, adding that his victory was driven by the support of party workers and grassroots members.

“I opposed moves to undermine inner-party democracy and promote family dominance and succession. Local committee members and cadres stood by me. Without their support, this result would not have been possible,” he said. “This is a constituency where M.V. Govindan had earlier won by 22,000 votes. I have now won by 12,500. A large section of Communist party workers supported me,” he added.

He linked his campaign with that of V. Kunhikrishnan, who won in Payyannur, saying both had raised similar concerns over corruption and attempts to shield those involved. “In Taliparamba, there were efforts by the sitting MLA and the State secretary to field his wife. A coterie controls development activities here and is afraid of losing that control if a new representative comes in. The leadership is trying to protect certain interests and has much to hide,” he alleged.

Reiterating that his aim was reform, not confrontation, he said, “My intention is not to bring harm to the party but to correct its course. The leadership must draw lessons from this verdict.”

Mr. Govindan also called for introspection on the public sentiment against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “The strong resentment towards the Chief Minister needs honest discussion. If corrective steps are not taken, the party in Kerala could face a situation similar to that in West Bengal,” he warned. Criticising the functioning style of the oarty leadership, he said it was contributing to the party’s decline.

On Pinarayi’s performance

Referring to the counting day, Mr. Govindan said he was uneasy when early trends showed Mr. Vijayan trailing. “I never wanted him to lose. When it seemed that he might be defeated, I felt anxious. But the fact that such a situation arose itself should serve as a warning to him and the party,” he said, cautioning that failure to reform could push the CPI(M) towards a plight similar to that in West Bengal.

On his political future, Mr. Govindan made it clear that he would align with the UDF. “I contested as an Independent with UDF support and naturally I will stand with them. Their support played a major role in my victory,“ he said, while also acknowledging the role of long-standing personal goodwill. “People who have known me for decades, who trust and support me, have also contributed to this win,” he added.