CPI(M) review says ‘personalising’ campaign around Pinarayi Vijayan weakened political initiative in 2026 Kerala Assembly polls

A review conducted by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has identified key strategic missteps during the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, attributing them to the overemphasis on personalizing the campaign around former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. According to the review, released online on July 27, 2026, this approach undermined the CPI(M)'s broader political messaging and weakened its campaign's effectiveness. The review highlighted that centering the campaign solely around Vijayan created the perception that the CPI(M) was focused on a single individual rather than presenting a comprehensive political platform. This strategy, according to the document, hindered the party's ability to expose the "reactionary, ruling class bias" of the Congress party and the United Democratic Front (UDF). Additionally, it left Vijayan vulnerable to targeted criticism from opposition groups. The CPI(M) reportedly placed too much emphasis on the social capital built through the previous LDF government's development and welfare policies, which limited its capacity to promote its core principles of anti-corporate, anti-communal, and anti-neoliberal politics. This imbalance in messaging reportedly allowed the UDF to gain traction with certain segments of the population, particularly Christian minorities, who were influenced by the UDF's campaign strategies. Another point of concern raised in the review was the incident involving a party minister who quoted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's message at the Travancore Devaswom Board-organized Global Ayyappa Sangamam. This act was deemed damaging to the CPI(M)'s secular image and suggested a perceived leniency toward Hindutva forces. The review criticized the minister's actions for sending the wrong signal to the public regarding the party's stance on communal issues. The CPI(M) also faced internal scrutiny for its handling of the anti-Muslim statements made by Vellappally Natesan, the general secretary of SNDP Yogam. The review indicated that the party's response was insufficient, creating an impression of compromise in its fight against Hindu majoritarian communalism. Criticism extended to the CPI(M)'s reaction to the PM-SHRI controversy, a federal funding program for school education that was widely viewed as favoring Hindutva interests. The Central Committee noted that the CPI's stance on this issue inadvertently bolstered the UDF's narrative suggesting a secret alliance between the CPI(M) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The review emphasized the importance of maintaining unity among LDF partners and expressed disappointment that the CPI(M) did not adequately consult these allies on contentious issues like PM-SHRI. The UDF capitalized on the lack of consensus within the LDF to propagate the idea of a clandestine agreement between the CPI(M) and the BJP. In reflecting on past governance, the Central Committee acknowledged the presence of CPI(M) sub-committees in earlier LDF administrations, designed to handle political matters, oversee administrative initiatives, and prevent errors that might allow opponents to challenge the party's political positions. These mechanisms were seen as essential tools for effective governance and political strategy. The review concluded with a caution against careless communication from party leaders, noting that certain responses from prominent figures had given anti-Left media and their political backers opportunities to launch negative campaigns. This underscores the need for careful and deliberate engagement with both the media and the public to maintain a robust political front.