Thiruvananthapuram, 22 March (H.S.): CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan on Sunday asserted that the exit of a handful of leaders from the party would have no bearing on its prospects in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, expressing confidence that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is on course to secure a decisive mandate of 110 seats.

Addressing the media, Govindan downplayed recent defections, stating that isolated departures cannot weaken a mass-based political movement. “The party has over 5.5 lakh members and around 2.5 lakh committed supporters. If a few individuals leave due to ideological deviations, it does not reflect on the strength of the communist movement,” he said.

His remarks come in the backdrop of former Koduvally MLA Karat Razack rejoining the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) after parting ways with the LDF, citing lack of support within the party. Additionally, senior leader G. Sudhakaran has chosen to contest as a UDF-backed independent in Ambalappuzha, while a few others have also distanced themselves from the party in recent weeks.

Rejecting allegations of internal discord, Govindan maintained that the CPM handles differences through established organisational mechanisms. “Unlike the Congress, we do not have factional issues. Any concerns are resolved internally, and disciplinary action is taken when necessary,” he added.

He also dismissed Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan’s claims of a covert understanding between the CPM and the BJP in certain constituencies, including Palakkad, terming them “baseless and repetitive accusations” unworthy of response.

Launching a sharp attack on the Congress-led UDF, Govindan accused the opposition of obstructing development initiatives and failing to stand with the state on key issues over the past decade. In contrast, he highlighted the LDF government’s governance record, expressing confidence that its performance would resonate with voters.

“We are confident of winning 110 seats,” he reiterated, signalling the LDF’s ambitious electoral target.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman