THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The two-day CPM state secretariat meet which concluded here on Wednesday witnessed severe criticism against the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections.
Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan is reported to have said that the party’s poll strategy was flawed beginning from the wrong choice of candidates. The veteran leader called for a serious introspection and a detailed probe into the specific factors that contributed to the defeats and fall in the victory margin in some constituencies. Achuthanandan also criticised the circumstances which led to the exit of RSP from the LDF.
Politburo member M A Baby who suffered a humiliating defeat against RSP’s N K Premachandran in Kollam made an emotional address that lasted for nearly an hour.
He reportedly pointed out various factors that worked against him, including the derogatory remark by party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan against Premachandran. Kozhikode candidate A Vijayaraghavan called for a probe into the indifference shown by some quarters which led to his defeat.
Several members demanded a constituency-wise deep probe into poll performance. The drop in party votes in the constituencies of Kozhikode, Vadakara, Kasaragod and T’Puram was alarming, they said.
The CPM state committee which will meet on Thursday and Friday will decide whether a commission should be set up to probe the poll performance.
Meanwhile, a demand for reviewing party’s policies on various issues raised by T M Thomas Isaac and M A Baby was deferred to the next secretariat meeting.