Kerala Assembly elections | Don’t attribute win to Pinarayi alone, says CPI(M) mouthpiece

Editorial objects to the narrative that Vijayan will dominate govt and party.

The credit for the CPI(M)-led Left front’s victory in Kerala Assembly polls should not be “solely” be given to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the latest editorial of party mouthpiece People’s Democracy, edited by former party general secretary Prakash Karat, said. The party’s resounding victory in Kerala and a wipeout in West Bengal, has led many commentators to attribute the victory to Mr. Vijayan’s administrative skills and powerful image alone, rather than the party’s own organisational network. The editorial notes, “There is an effort by sections of the media and some political commentators to reduce this historic victory solely to the personality and role of Pinarayi Vijayan. According to them, it is the emergence of a “supreme leader” or “strong man” that was the main reason for the electoral success of the LDF.” It also objects to the narrative that Mr Vijayan will dominate the government and the party.