A meeting of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] district committee held on Saturday to analyse the outcome of the recent Assembly elections witnessed sharp criticism against Veena George, the former Health Minister.

The two-day meeting, which followed a session of the party’s district secretariat, saw participants accusing Ms. George of contributing to the party’s loss in Aranmula through what they described as an indifferent approach that alienated voters during the campaign. Sources said she was also accused of functioning in a manner that led to a near-complete disconnect with both the public and party workers. Even party cadres, it was pointed out, found it difficult to reach her over the phone for urgent matters.

Participants further noted that her tendency to become embroiled in avoidable controversies during her ministerial tenure, coupled with her failure to offer clear explanations, were among the key shortcomings attributed to her performance.

Flays Govindan

The meeting also witnessed criticism directed at CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan over the decision to field his wife, P. K. Shyamala, in the election. Some leaders also questioned the decision to elevate Pinarayi Vijayan as the Leader of the Opposition, despite his reported unwillingness to shoulder responsibility for the party’s electoral debacle. It was argued that Mr. Vijayan’s exemption from age limits had been granted to enable him to serve as the Chief Minister, not to take up the Opposition leadership. The meeting, it was warned, could face further setbacks and organisational decline unless a change in leadership at the Opposition front was made immediately.

CPI(M) Central Committee member T.M. Thomas Isaac was present at the meeting.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had won all five Assembly seats in the district in the previous term, ended up losing four this time. Even in Konni, where it managed to retain the seat, the victory margin was significantly reduced. The coalition had fielded four sitting MLAs in the district, including a Minister.

Amid the broader setback, the defeat of Ms. George by a margin of over 18,000 votes was seen as a particularly severe blow to the party’s State leadership. Fielded directly by the State leadership, the CPI(M) had expected to retain Aranmula, even if with a reduced majority. However, the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) victory margin crossing 10,000 votes came as a significant setback, turning it into a result that drew attention at the State level.

KC(M) meet

Earlier, a meeting of the Kerala Congress (M) [KC(M)] district committee in Pathanamthitta had levelled scathing criticism against the party’s candidate in Ranni, Pramod Narayan.

During the meeting, leaders accused Mr. Narayan of being entirely subservient to the CPI(M) and of having developed a disconnect with the KC(M) cadre. The party also held Mr. Narayan solely responsible for the defeat in Ranni.