After deliberation meet, CPI(M) rules out understanding with Congress

After a party state secretariat meeting that took stock of the local body election outcome, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan told the media there would be “no horse trading”. “Our decision is to accept the verdict. CPI(M) does not require power for survival. There would be no understanding with the Congress to keep the BJP out of power,” he said.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the BJP has won 50 wards, while the CPI(M) and the Congress together have 48. Two independents have also emerged as crucial in the corporation.

In the 53-member Palakkad council, the BJP has 25 members, while the CPI(M) (8) and the Congress (17) together make the same tally. There are also three independents.

Although local leaderships of both the Congress and the CPI(M) have considered joining hands to keep the BJP out of power, both parties apparently fear it could become a major embarrassment with the Assembly election just four months away.

Besides, there are a few panchayats and block panchayats where fringe groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami’s Welfare Party of India and the banned Popular Front of India’s (PFI) the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have turned decisive in the formation of governing bodies after mainstream parties fell short of majority.

However, both the Congress and the CPI(M) are likely to tread cautiously to ensure any links with these groups are not weaponised in the upcoming election.

Speaking further on the results, Govindan denied that anti-incumbency played any role in the LDF’s defeat. He pointed to seven of the 14 district panchayats where voting was largely along political lines.

“There is no anti-government sentiment. The government has unparalleled achievements. Despite the government performing very well, there was an electoral setback. How the people have viewed the achievements of the government will be examined,” he said.

The district panchayat election results show that the party base is intact, Govindan said.

“The party will examine the setback in central Kerala, where Christians are strong in numbers, and in Malappuram, where Muslims dominate,” he said.

On whether the Sabarimala gold scandal impacted the outcome, Govindan said: “The party will examine that as well.”