C. P. John, general secretary of the Communist Marxist Party (CMP), who won the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly constituency seat, said that the Kerala Chief Minister chosen by the Congress High Command would be acceptable to the CMP.
However, in reply to a question, he said the Congress would take an appropriate decision considering various factors, including the wishes of the people. He also refused to comment further on the matter.
Regarding the possibility of a ministerial berth for the CMP, he said the CMP is an old alliance partner of the United Democratic Front (UDF). On the issue of a ministerial berth for the CMP, he said there is a precedent within the alliance and that the status quo would be maintained this time as well.
CMP founder and veteran leader M. V. Raghavan had served as the Ports and Co-operation Minister in the UDF ministry headed by A. K. Antony in 2001.
Thanking the people for electing him from the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly constituency, he said the defeat suffered by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in the Assembly election was “the worst” in the party’s electoral history. In 1977, the party was reduced to just 17 seats. However, the party had performed well in its strongholds, including Kannur, although there was a decline in its vote base, he said.
Addressing the potable water crisis in Thiruvananthapuram would be his immediate priority, along with ensuring the overall development of the people in the constituency, he added.
Published – May 07, 2026 03:43 pm IST
