Thiruvananthapuram, August 29: The ongoing dispute over the position of the opposition’s deputy leader in Kerala has escalated significantly. Leaders from the CPI and CPI-M are openly exchanging sharp statements, prompting LDF convenor T.P. Ramakrishnan to intervene on Friday. He appealed for restraint and assured that efforts are underway to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
Ramakrishnan emphasized that leaders should exercise caution in their public statements and that differences within the coalition should be addressed through discussions.
His intervention is viewed in political circles as an attempt to curb the growing controversy, which could be embarrassing for the CPI-M, especially with an extended meeting of the party’s state committee scheduled next month in Kozhikode.
Ramakrishnan stated, “We must resolve issues through dialogue. Efforts to find a solution are ongoing.”
He also noted that former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s previous comments on the matter were based on decisions already made by the coalition. He clarified that the official stance of the CPI-M should be communicated by the party’s state secretary.
The immediate cause of this dispute was the CPI’s demand for the position of opposition deputy leader following the electoral defeat of the leftist parties.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam’s public statement asserting that his party would not relinquish the position was dismissed by Vijayan, turning what was an internal matter into a public confrontation.
This bitterness has now spilled over onto social media, where references to the CPI’s political history are being used to intensify attacks.
Social media posts have highlighted instances from the 1970s when CPI leaders became Chief Ministers with Congress’s support, adding a historical dimension to the current conflict between the two communist parties.
CPI-M is concerned that a prolonged confrontation could further expose rifts within the left at a politically sensitive time.
The party is already grappling with the fallout from its worst electoral defeat, which has also impacted Vijayan’s political credibility.
Additionally, the investigation into his daughter Veena by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has increased pressure on the former Chief Minister.
Against this backdrop, Ramakrishnan’s intervention can also be seen as an attempt to de-escalate tensions before the extended meeting of the state committee, aiming to prevent the CPI dispute from evolving into a major political issue.
CPI-M seeks to avoid another round of public debate with its oldest ally, especially as the party has yet to fully recover from its electoral loss. However, the CPI’s insistence on the deputy leader position has ensured that an issue that could have been resolved behind closed doors is now in the public eye.
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