THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Admitting to various lapses including faulty candidate selection and arrogant campaigning, in addition to leaders’ aberrant behaviour, the CPM is set to go for a total overhaul and course correction. Notably, the central leadership has identified an array of lapses on the part of state leadership and the previous Left government in Kerala.
It is learnt that the central committee was critical of lapses, including in the organisation of the Ayyappa Sangamam, failure to handle the Vellappally issue effectively and inaction against party leader A Padmakumar, besides erroneous candidate selection. Sources said the leaders representing the state too raised criticism and pointed out major shortcomings.
The just-concluded three-day central committee (CC) meeting has hence decided to launch major corrective steps. The extended state committee — to be held in September — is expected to chart a future course of action. Though the CC did not single out any leader, be it Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan or state secretary M V Govindan, criticism was primarily directed at leaders occupying crucial roles.
Briefing the media after the CC meet, general secretary M A Baby called for introspection on the part of all leaders. He pointed out that leaders’ behavioural aspects too contributed to the loss. “It cannot be said that the behaviour of any specific leader led to the defeat. But there were lapses in campaigning,” Baby said.
The CPM general secretary also pointed to a lack of caution in several aspects, including party cadre’s approach towards the masses.
“Cadres and leaders — right from the lower ranks to the general secretary — should make corrections,” he reiterated.
Admitting to major lapses in candidate selection and campaigning, Baby said corrective steps will be taken to overcome the setbacks in Kerala and West Bengal. The extended state committee meetings will discuss in detail the reasons for failure and measures to overcome the same.
Though the party leadership did not quite spell it out, there are indications the extended state committee will consider changes in leadership, especially regarding the scope for revamping the secretariat and the state committee with fresh faces. Responding to questions on whether there would be a leadership change, Baby said that everything would be based on the discussions in the extended state committee meeting.