Archive · 31 Aug 2026
LDF Urged to Analyse Poll Defeat, Resolve Leadership Dispute
The LDF is a political alliance in Kerala.
Two of its parties, the CPI and CPI(M), disagree about who should become Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Jose K Mani said the parties should discuss the disagreement privately and settle it.
He said the alliance should spend more time understanding why it lost many votes in the Assembly election.
Mani said welfare and development work were not the only things voters considered.
He urged the LDF to study its mistakes and make changes.
CPI leader Binoy Viswam said the CPI does not want to damage its relationship with the CPI(M).
He also said the CPI still believes it should receive the post.
The parties say the disagreement should be resolved through talks.
Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K Mani urged the LDF to prioritise analysing its Assembly poll defeat over the Deputy Leader of Opposition dispute.
Mani said the CPI and CPI(M) should resolve the issue through internal discussions and avoid public statements that could affect LDF unity.
He cited a difference of nearly 19.10 lakh voters who voted against the LDF and called for a serious examination of the defeat’s causes.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said the CPI did not want to weaken its relationship with the CPI(M) or divide the LDF.
Viswam said the CPI remained confident of securing the Deputy Leader of Opposition post, which it first raised during talks on May 7.
- Who
- Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (M), CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, and the CPI and CPI(M) within the LDF.
- What
- A dispute over the Deputy Leader of Opposition post, alongside calls to analyse the LDF’s Assembly election defeat.
- When
- The CPI first raised the issue during talks with the CPI(M) on May 7; the statements were reported on August 31.
- Where
- Kottayam and New Delhi, Kerala and India.
- Why
- The CPI seeks the Deputy Leader of Opposition post, while Jose K Mani urged the alliance to focus on its electoral defeat and preserve unity.
Focus on Electoral Review
Pursue the Deputy Opposition Post
Immediate priority
Focus on Electoral Review
Jose K Mani said the LDF should prioritise analysing the reasons for its Assembly poll defeat and correcting shortcomings.
Pursue the Deputy Opposition Post
The CPI continues to seek the Deputy Leader of Opposition post and says it has full conviction that it should secure it.
Handling the dispute
Focus on Electoral Review
Mani said the CPI and CPI(M) should settle the issue through dialogue and avoid discussing it publicly to protect LDF unity.
Pursue the Deputy Opposition Post
The CPI said it also wants discussions, but maintained that the demand was legitimate and had already been raised with the CPI(M).
Effect on the alliance
Focus on Electoral Review
Mani warned that public statements about the dispute could harm the LDF’s unity.
Pursue the Deputy Opposition Post
Binoy Viswam said the CPI did not want to weaken CPI-CPI(M) relations or create divisions within the LDF.
- Alliance
- The Left Democratic Front is the political alliance at the centre of the dispute.
- Largest constituents
- Kerala Congress (M) is the LDF’s third-largest constituent after the CPI(M) and CPI.
- Disputed post
- Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly.
- Vote difference
- Jose K Mani cited nearly 19.10 lakh voters who voted against the LDF in the last election.
- Issue raised
- The CPI said it first raised the demand during CPI-CPI(M) talks on May 7.
- CPI position
- The CPI said it wants the matter resolved through discussions and remains confident of securing the post.
- Mani’s recommendation
- He called for one or two days of detailed analysis to identify shortcomings and take corrective action.