CPI(M)’s support for Vellappally resulted in loss of minority votes, says party’s Idukki district committee

The CPI(M) district committee meeting on Wednesday criticised the State leadership, stating that the party’s support for SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan cost the LDF minority votes in the assembly election. Representatives argued that the leadership’s defence of Mr Natesan and his statements resulted in a total loss of minority support.

“The CPI(M) State leadership failed to distance itself from the statements made by Mr Natesan, which signalled to voters that the leadership supported him,” members said.

The representatives also pointed out the organisational weaknesses of the CPI(M)’s youth wing, the DYFI. “Over the years, the DYFI has faced a decline in organisational growth and failed to attract the new generation of youth. The organisation failed to arrange diverse programs to engage young people. For the past 10 years, the DYFI’s only consistent activity has been the distribution of pothichoru (food parcels) in hospitals,” representatives said.

The CPI(M) Idukki district meeting, convened to review the poll debacle, levelled serious criticism against the CPI(M) State leadership. However, representatives have not yet directed harsh criticism toward the district secretary or the local leadership regarding the election failure.

In the assembly election, the LDF suffered a major setback, losing all five seats in Idukki. By comparison, in the 2021 election, the LDF won four out of the five seats. This time, however, the party faced a severe blow even in its traditional strongholds, including Devikulam, Udumbanchola, and Peerumade. The LDF also suffered significant losses in the local body elections in Idukki.