Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph termed the Assembly election result in Payyannur a major setback for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kannur district. He expressed gratitude to voters in the Payyannur and Taliparamba constituencies.

Mr. Joseph said the verdict reflected public discontent with the positions taken by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged the CPI(M) leadership and cadre to undertake serious introspection. He added that the developments in Kannur could trigger further political shifts in the coming years.

Alleging that genuine Marxists who exposed corruption and financial irregularities within the party and government were sidelined, Mr. Joseph said the CPI(M) had adopted a stance of targeting dissenters.