KOCHI: Expectations can cut both ways: they can either be met or exceeded, or they can misfire. One of the biggest miscalculations in Kerala’s political history unfolded during the 1991 assembly elections, when the ruling Left government lost its bid for a consecutive term.
Buoyed by a favourable political climate and sweeping victories in local body polls, the CPM-led left government opted for early elections in 1991, instead of completing its full five-year term. However, the move did not go to plan, and the Left lost power.
In 1987, under the leadership of E K Nayanar, the LDF secured a decisive majority with 78 seats, bringing him back as chief minister for a second term, with the government’s term set to run until 1992.
Amid this, the state witnessed the first and only district council elections in its history, held in late January 1991, in which the CPM-led LDF registered a landslide victory by winning 12 of the 14 districts, except Malappuram and Kottayam.
“Following this, the CPM deliberated the matter in its state committees and decided to opt for early elections instead of completing the full five-year term, aiming to secure a consecutive mandate by capitalising on the favourable political climate. However, the decision proved to be a miscalculation, and the Left lost power, with K Karunakaran being sworn in as CM of the UDF alliance,” N M Pearson, a left-wing political thinker, said.
He added that the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 also influenced the political climate ahead of the assembly elections held a month later.
N P Chekkutty, a senior journalist and political commentator, said the insistence of V S Achuthanandan — then a strong voice within the CPM — had exerted pressure within the state committee to push for early elections, a move that ultimately proved futile.