Thiruvananthapuram, 29 December(H.S) : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has indirectly acknowledged that the Sabarimala issue turned into a major electoral setback, with State Secretary M.V. Govindan admitting that the controversy was effectively used by political opponents during the recent local body elections.

Speaking to the media, Govindan said the issue became a dangerous campaign tool, and accused the Congress of adopting the BJP’s narrative on Sabarimala to gain political mileage.

He, however, clarified that no immediate action would be taken against M. Padmakumar, who was arrested in connection with the alleged Sabarimala gold smuggling case. “We need to first understand whether there is any substance in the allegations. The CPM does not take action merely based on media reports. Once the charge sheet is filed, the party will examine the matter and take an appropriate decision,” he said.

Reviewing the outcome of the recent local body elections, the CPI(M) state secretary said the party had already begun preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections by closely analysing the results. While acknowledging that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered setbacks in certain areas, Govindan asserted that the overall public support base remained intact. “The vote share clearly reflects this. The LDF has not lost its mass base,” he said.

He pointed out that the LDF’s vote share had increased significantly compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections. In the last parliamentary polls, the LDF had secured 33.60 per cent of the votes, whereas the figure rose to 39.73 per cent in the local body elections.

In numerical terms, the alliance polled over 84 lakh votes in the local body polls, registering an increase of more than 17 lakh votes compared to the Lok Sabha elections. The LDF, he said, secured a clear lead in 60 Assembly segments, while in several others the margin of defeat was marginal. In contrast, both the UDF and BJP witnessed a decline in their respective vote shares.

Govindan also criticised what he described as the Union government’s attempt to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme through new labour laws. In protest, the LDF will launch a statewide agitation.

As part of the protest programme, “Employment Protection Assemblies” will be organised in all 23,000 wards across the state on January 3. A major protest will also be held in front of the Raj Bhavan on January 15, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, with the participation of LDF MLAs, MPs and senior leaders.

Govindan asserted that the Left would counter political attacks through sustained grassroots mobilisation and emerge stronger in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman