Vijayan face of 2026 bid to ‘New Kerala’ plank: Key takeaways from CPI(M) meet

The state conference was held in Kollam ahead of the CPI(M)’s 24th Party Congress scheduled for next month in Madurai. Here are some notable takeaways from the conclave.

Vijayan’s grip on CPI(M)

The four-day CPI(M) event reflected Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s hold on the state party unit, getting ringing endorsement of his leadership from the participating delegates. It was evident that Vijayan, who has been the CM since 2016, would be the face of the LDF campaign for the 2026 polls.

Although several political controversies surrounded his government 2.0 over the last four years, Vijayan has remained unscathed. The conclave again gave exemption to 79-year-old Vijayan despite its age limit of 75 years for getting elected to top party bodies like the state committee or secretariat.

Before taking charge as the CM, Vijayan served as the CPI(M)’s state secretary since 1998, with his tenure marked with internal party rivalries. By the time Vijayan stepped down from this post in 2015, he consolidated his position in the party firmly. The conference also saw his loyalist from Kannur, M V Govindan, being re-elected as the state party secretary.

Private investment in PSUs

The two decisions taken at the conference, paving the road ahead for the LDF regime, were the major highlights of the event.

During its second term, the Vijayan government has held a series of protests against poor fund allocation from the Centre. The conference gave its nod to the party to mobilise resources on the fronts of taxes and user-fees to overcome its financial constraints.

Another decision taken by the conference, seen to woo private investments in a big way and in a departure from its previous stand against disinvestment of PSUs, was to allow such investments in the cash-strapped PSUs. The CPI(M) says both moves are part of Kerala’s “alternative model” for development.

Govt agenda over party issues

Setting the upcoming polls in the coming months as major tasks for the party, the CPI(M) conference focused on the government’s priorities rather than dealing with organisational concerns.

The draft of “New Kerala’s new ways”, endorsed by the conference, is a continuation of the development agenda introduced in the 2022 conclave. The “New Kerala” document presented by the CM outlines the CPI(M)’s plan to create a developed Kerala, listing the “accomplishments” of the LDF government in the last 10 years. This would be the party’s key plank in the 2026 polls.

Vijayan’s clout helped him get his development agenda cleared by the CPI(M) conference, with the party issues taking a back seat.

Focus on middle-class

Aiming for a “pro-incumbency” vote for development, the CPI(M) is banking on the middle-class with Govindan having stated that workers must keep in mind the growing urbanisation in the state as well as the dwindling rural-urban divide.

The CPI(M) is hoping that infrastructure development under the Vijayan regime, coupled with the proposed push for private investment and entrepreneurship, will take the party closer to the middle-class. The target of lifting the standard of living in Kerala on par with middle-income countries was another focus of the conference.

New faces

With 75 years as the age-limit for the CPI(M) office-bearers, a section of senior leaders exited the state committee and state secretariat giving way to a new crop of leaders, most of them are young faces.

CPI(M) dominance in LDF

The conference also indicated that the LDF allies, including the CPI, have little role to play in the policy matters of the Vijayan regime, with crucial decisions like the involvement of private players in the PSUs and new avenues of resource mobilisation being ratified by it.