Thomas Isaac’s ‘shock treatment’ exposes growing unease in Kerala CPM

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 2 (AHN) The CPI(M)’s debate over its crushing Assembly election defeat has taken a sharper turn, with senior leader and Central Committee member T.M. Thomas Isaac openly questioning the party’s functioning and leadership approach.

In a strong assessment of the defeat, Isaac said the party had become arrogant after remaining in power for 10 consecutive years.

It had failed to approach people with humility and had grown increasingly unwilling to listen to those who raised questions or disagreed with the leadership.

Isaac said the election result should be seen as a ‘shock treatment’ administered by the people.

He linked the setback to mistakes in candidate selection and the party’s failure to understand public sentiment.

His remarks came in a speech when he spoke at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the CPI(M)’s Vallikunnam West local committee office in Alappuzha.

Isaac also acknowledged that the campaign alleging a deal between the CPI(M) and the BJP had influenced voters.

While describing the campaign as false, he admitted that some statements and actions by party leaders had helped such a narrative gain ground.

He also raised serious questions about the handling of cooperative bank affairs.

The money deposited in cooperative banks, he said, belonged to the people and not to party leaders or their families.

Those who had taken money should repay it. If they were unwilling to do so, they should leave the party, he said.

Isaac also referred to the Ayyappa Sangamam controversy.

Even if the party had not intended to convey a particular message, he said, it should have understood how its actions could be interpreted by the public.

His remarks assume significance as the party prepares for an extended state committee meeting in Kozhikode from September 13 to 15 to examine the election defeat and decide on corrective measures.

There is already growing unease among senior leaders over the manner in which former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has handled the post-election debate.

Pinarayi’s categorical statement that the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition would not be given to the CPI, amid a dispute between the CPI(M) and CPI over the position, was among the first points of criticism.

LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan later had to clarify the position.

His meetings in Taliparamba and Payyannur have also come under discussion within the party.

A section of leaders felt that the manner in which the defeat was explained appeared to place the blame on cadres who voted for rebel candidates.

The party’s organisational review, however, had identified failures in candidate selection and organisational functioning in these constituencies.

It had also pointed to the weakening of links between leaders and workers in traditional party strongholds.

The attacks by Pinarayi and Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh against rebel leaders T.K. Govindan and V. Kunjikrishnan have also drawn criticism from some leaders, who feel that the attacks could strengthen their public image.

The larger question now confronting the CPI(M) is one of accountability.

The party suffered setbacks not only in Kannur but in several of its traditional strongholds.

The Kozhikode meeting, to be attended by nine Polit Bureau members, including General Secretary M.A. Baby, is expected to witness a detailed debate on the reasons for the defeat, candidate selection, organisational weaknesses and the functioning of the leadership.

Isaac’s intervention has added a new dimension to that debate.

His message is clear: the party cannot simply blame voters or cadres.

It must examine its own mistakes, rebuild public trust and convince people that it has changed.

Incidentally, Isaac was the State Finance Minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet ( 2016-21) and when he was all set to contest from his sitting seat, came the news that the party had decided to keep those who have contested multiple elections out of the contest.

This came as a shock to Isaac and numerous others, and he got a further shock when he was asked to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha seat from Pathanamthitta but lost.