Kerala Left Front Row: CPI Slams Vijayan Over Dy LoP Post!
Kerala Left Front Row: CPI Slams Vijayan Over Dy LoP Post!
Tensions rise in Kerala's LDF as CPI's Sathyan Mokeri criticizes Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan's 'unilateral' decision on Dy LoP. Will the alliance unity hold?
The internal conflict within Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF) has escalated significantly, primarily over the contentious post of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly. This political battle intensified on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, when Sathyan Mokeri, the Communist Party of India (CPI) Kerala assistant secretary, published a scathing article in the party's mouthpiece, Janayugam. His piece directly targeted Opposition Leader and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing him of being “discourteous to alliance partners.”
Mokeri's critique highlighted Vijayan's perceived disregard for the established norms of a multi-party alliance. In his weekly column, he lambasted Vijayan's “I am everything and I will decide” attitude, arguing that such an approach undermines the collective functioning essential for a political front. Mokeri stated emphatically, “Such an attitude is not befitting a Communist leader,” underlining the deep ideological rift brewing between the allies.
The dispute originated in the aftermath of the LDF's significant defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, which prompted the CPI to propose the creation of a Deputy Leader of Opposition post. While discussions were ongoing at various levels, Opposition Leader Vijayan unilaterally announced to the media that he would nominate a CPI(M) leader for the position, completely sidelining the ongoing consultations. Mokeri sharply questioned Vijayan's motivation, asserting that the Dy LoP post is a “political issue” that cannot be decided solely by the Opposition Leader.
Further exacerbating the tensions, CPI national general secretary D. Raja weighed in, urging Pinarayi Vijayan to adopt a more “accommodative” stance towards his allies within the LDF. Mokeri's article also revealed that discussions between LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan and CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam had indicated an agreement that the issue should be handled through dialogue, making Vijayan's public statement all the more surprising and provocative. Mokeri acerbically remarked that Vijayan's motivation “did not germinate from the politics of the Left,” suggesting a deviation from collaborative principles. The escalating war of words signals a challenging period for the LDF's internal cohesion.
