Pinarayi arrives in capital city, drops convoy, maintains silence after poll debacle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the heavy defeat suffered by the CPM and the LDF in the elections, Pinarayi Vijayan arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur Tuesday morning. He reached the airport but did not respond to the media or take any questions, even as journalists tried to get a reaction.

Unlike earlier occasions when he traveled in an official convoy with a flag-bearing vehicle and tight security, this time he used a regular car arranged by the party, accompanied only by a standard police escort. Senior CPM leaders, including V Joy, V Sivankutty, and A A Rahim, were present at the airport to receive him.

From the airport, he proceeded to Cliff House, the official residence of the chief minister, which he is expected to vacate soon. Reports suggest he may move to flats near AKG Centre, known as Chintha Flats, where accommodation is available for politburo members (specifically units 3A and 3B are said to be getting prepared). This move is being seen as an indication that he may not take up the role of opposition leader.

He is not expected to respond immediately on the poll debacle. The CPM state secretariat is scheduled to meet tomorrow, and his response may come after that, possibly in a press meet. Following the setback, including in Dharmadam, he had remained at his Kannur residence without addressing the media. His resignation letter from the chief minister’s post was reportedly submitted to the Governor through a special messenger.

Within party circles as well, criticism has been mounting, with some cadres holding him responsible for the electoral debacle faced by the party and the front.