CPI-CPI(M) battle over Keralam Dy LoP post intensifies as Sathyan Mokeri lambasts Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan

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CPI Keralam assistant secretary Sathyan Mokeri (left) with Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan (file) | Photo Credit: The Hindu

The internecine war within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly intensified further on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) with the Communist Party of India (CPI) Keralam assistant secretary Sathyan Mokeri penning a piece in the party mouthpiece Janayugam , launching a broadside against Opposition Leader and Communist Party of India [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan for being “discourteous to alliance partners.”

Accusing Mr. Vijayan of ignoring the norms of a multi-party alliance, Mr. Mokeri wrote in his weekly column that an “I am everything and I will decide” attitude would not help the collective functioning of a political front. “Such an attitude is not befitting a Communist leader,” he wrote.

It was the CPI that proposed the post of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly in the wake of the massive defeat suffered by the LDF in the 2026 Assembly elections. That was being discussed at various levels when in complete disregard, the Opposition Leader made a statement overriding all that. He told the media that he was the one to give a nomination letter to the Speaker and that that would be the name of a CPI(M) leader.

“The post of Deputy Leader of Opposition is a political issue, which the Opposition Leader cannot decide unilaterally. It’s an issue that’s being discussed between the CPI and the CPI(M) involving the national leadership of both these parties. None of these discussions gave any indication of the Opposition Leader giving a letter of nomination. What motivated the Opposition Leader to say so? Whatever that may be, it’s clear that the motivation did not germinate form the politics of the Left,” Mr. Mokeri remarked acerbically.

He said that in the discussions between LDF convener T.P. Ramakrishnan and CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam, it was agreed that the issue should not be a hurdle for convening the LDF State-level meeting and that the issue need not be raised there. So, when the LDF met recently, the agenda comprised Keralam politics and related activities and the meeting concluded after deciding to work collectively for the victory of the front in the upcoming byelections to the 38 local body seats across 12 districts.

Given this context, Mr. Mokeri said it was pertinent to know what really prompted Mr. Vijayan to make the utterings “aimed at weakening the LDF and the moral standards kept by it”. Mr. Mokeri went on to say that such a self-serving approach would only be “helpful to the RSS-Bharatiya Janata Party outfits” in their attempt to intervene strongly in the State’s politics.

Mr. Mokeri added that the stances taken by the former, now deceased, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on political and moral issues were received by Keralam with enthusiasm. "It is regrettable that the Opposition Leader doesn’t have the political maturity upheld by Communist leaders,” he summed up.

Mr.