Anti-government sentiment also factor in election defeat, CPI says CPM's protection of Padmakumar became setback

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI has rejected the CPM's assessment regarding the defeat in the local body elections. The CPI executive has criticised the CPM for hiding facts in the election defeat. Anti-government sentiment was a setback. The Sabarimala gold loot is the reason for the defeat. A proper assessment is needed in this. The CPM's attempt to protect Padmakumar, who was arrested in the Sabarimala case, backfired. The Congress took action even though Rahul Mamkootathil is an MLA, but the CPM tried to protect Padmakumar by making excuses, criticised the executive.

However, the CPM's assessment is that the reason for the setback in the local elections is overconfidence and organisational weakness. The decline in activity at the regional level also led to the unexpected defeat. The UDF and the BJP carried out false propaganda on issues like Sabarimala. That effort did not succeed as they intended. State Secretary M.V. Govindan said this at a press conference held after the CPM State Committee meeting to review the election results.

M.V. Govindan clarified in the meeting that it can be decided only after a detailed examination whether anti-government sentiment and gold looting were the reasons for the setback. The party was unable to recognise and defend the communal alliance of the UDF. An example of this is what happened in the Thiruvananthapuram municipality. Meanwhile, Govindan did not give a precise answer in the press conference to the question whether Sabarimala was a lapse.