Thiruvananthapyram, 28 July (H.S.): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has acknowledged significant organisational and political shortcomings during the tenure of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, admitting that the party failed to exercise adequate oversight over the administration. The observations are part of an internal review report prepared by the CPM Central Committee, which was published on the party's official website after analysing the results of Assembly elections in Kerala and other states.
The report states that, unlike previous Left governments, the party did not constitute a dedicated sub-committee to monitor the implementation of government policies and provide political guidance to the administration. This absence of institutional oversight, it noted, weakened the party's ability to maintain effective control over governance.
According to the report, public resentment grew during the previous government over what it described as the high-handed functioning of sections of the police and bureaucracy. The dissatisfaction was not confined to the public, with party workers also expressing concern that some ministers relied excessively on bureaucrats instead of engaging with the party organisation and mass movements.
The Central Committee further observed that, during the previous decade, the party's mass organisations failed to mobilise people around public issues in the manner they had done during earlier Left administrations. It also admitted that negative perceptions arising from arrogance, corruption, nepotism and extravagant lifestyles among certain leaders eroded public confidence in the party. The report explicitly states that anti-incumbency sentiment existed, contradicting the state leadership's earlier contention that no such mood had prevailed.
The review also pointed to delays in responding to politically sensitive issues. It said the national leadership had advised disciplinary action immediately after the arrest of E. Padmakumar in the Sabarimala gold theft case, suggesting that timely action could have minimised political damage. It further noted that the dispute with the CPI over the PM SHRI education scheme was resolved only after intervention by the national leadership.
The report also criticised the party for failing to field an adequate number of women, youth and minority candidates, stressing that responsibility for the lapse rested not only with district committees but also with the state leadership.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
