Pinarayi Vijayan accuses Taliparamba MLA T.K. Govindan of betraying CPI(M)

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday accused Independent MLA T.K. Govindan of betraying the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and causing its defeat in the Taliparamba constituency in the recent Assembly elections.

Addressing a CPI(M) rally in Taliparamba, Mr. Vijayan said the Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s vote share in the constituency declined by more than 11% compared to the 2021 elections, which led to the party's defeat. He attributed this decline to the candidacy of Mr. Govindan, who left the party and contested as an Independent with the support of the United Democratic Front (UDF).

Mr. Govindan had quit the CPI(M) after the party decided to field CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan's wife, P.K. Shyamala, as its candidate in Taliparamba. He went on to win the seat, which was considered a CPI(M) stronghold.

Mr. Vijayan said it was unfortunate that some people who had supported the CPI(M) at various stages took a different stand in the election. He called for introspection by those who took such a stance, saying a mistake can only be corrected if it is recognised as one.

Responding to the allegations, Mr. Govindan accused the CPI(M) leadership of destroying the party for its own selfish interests. He questioned whether the leadership was impartially examining the reasons for the party's decline and whether attacking him and Payyannur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan would save the party.

Mr. Govindan also referred to the killing of Revolutionary Marxist Party leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, who was allegedly hacked to death by CPI(M) activists in 2012, and questioned whether his elimination had strengthened the party.