Malappuram, 30 July (H.S.):
In a rare public admission of electoral missteps, CPM leader and former Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer said the party had carried out a comprehensive internal review and self-criticism following its defeat in the recent Kerala Assembly elections, identifying several strategic and political errors that contributed to the setback.
Speaking at the Kunjali commemoration programme at Kalikavu in Malappuram, Shamseer said the CPM had honestly assessed the reasons for its loss and was committed to correcting its mistakes. He said the review found that the party had erred in selecting candidates in constituencies such as Payyanur and Thaliparamba, acknowledging that those decisions had adversely affected its electoral prospects.
Shamseer also referred to the controversy surrounding remarks made by SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan against Malappuram. He admitted that the CPM had defended Vellappally's comments at the time but said the party's response lacked the clarity and conviction expected of it. According to him, the issue had been examined during the party's post-election review.
He further said the CPM had discussed the controversy over the Ayyappa Sangamam, which, though not organised by the party, was widely perceived as a government-backed event. Shamseer conceded that the speech of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should never have been read out during the programme under any circumstances, describing it as a mistake that had been recognised during the party's introspection.
Highlighting what he described as the CPM's culture of accountability, Shamseer said the party was prepared to publicly acknowledge its shortcomings rather than ignore them. He said the people remained the ultimate judges in a democracy and that the CPM would learn from the verdict, rectify its mistakes and work to regain public confidence.
Commenting on the current political climate, Shamseer said the Congress-led United Democratic Front was enjoying a post-election honeymoon period. He also took a dig at the Congress leadership, saying that although three leaders had competed for the chief minister's post before the elections, veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala was eventually sidelined.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
