CPI to focus on educating cadre in a bid to strengthen itself organisationally

Inferring the reasons for the massive drubbing suffered by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the 2026 Assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has concluded that the front, in which it is the second-largest constituent, could not gauge the pulse of the people and was caught unawares by the ‘political tsunami’ favouring the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). 

The minority communities, Christians and Muslims, which had thrown their political weight behind the alliance in the last two Assembly elections, abandoned it in the latest outing, the CPI State secretariat and the State executive, which met here over the last two days, concluded. The State Council meeting, which will continue on Thursday (June 18, 2026) as well, is also believed to have reached such a conclusion. 

The election outcome post-mortem, held from the lower-level units up to the State council, shared the belief that the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, in which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s message was read out, was a misadventure that caused a serious dent in the secular countenance of the LDF.

There was also unanimity over the crippling impact of the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s generous accommodation of SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan, widely seen as making anti-Muslim remarks. 

Alongside a loss of minority votes, the alliance also ceded a sizeable chunk of its mass votes to the BJP, which has become a key player on the electoral scene, the CPI concluded. However, party State secretary Binoy Viswam believes that it can bounce back stronger provided it reconnects with the people. “We suffered the worst defeat so far in 2001 but worked among the people and returned. It is possible to do it again,” he said

Ideological boost

As a first step, the party intends to strengthen its cadre ideologically. It is holding a five-day coaching class for the teachers of the party school at the C.K. Chandrappan Memorial on June 20. This will be followed by day-long classes for the entire 1.5 lakh members of the party in Kerala between July 3 and 16, the death anniversaries of yesteryear leaders K. Damodaran and N.E. Balaram. 

On September 1, the party will take out a people’s march to Delhi, raising the issues of NEET test paper leak, rising unemployment and price rise, among others.  

Mr. Viswam said that a clear roadmap for course correction will be ready once the party has concluded the process of election post-mortem.