Left’s doorstep outreach triggers political storm in Kerala, echoes Cong charge of ‘scripted apology’

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 17
A day after senior Congress leader and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Ramesh Chennithala accused the CPI(M) of indulging in “political theatre” to mask a decade of governance failures, internal guidelines issued to Left workers have surfaced, lending weight to his criticism.

The guidelines, circulated among party cadres ahead of an intensified door-to-door outreach drive, explicitly instruct workers to avoid arguments with households, regardless of the nature of complaints or allegations raised. Cadres have been advised to remain polite, listen patiently and disengage from contentious exchanges, particularly when confronted with sensitive issues currently dominating public discourse.

These include the Sabarimala gold heist case, in which four prominent individuals linked to the ruling Left are presently in jail, as well as wider criticism of the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s style of functioning since it assumed office in 2016. Critics argue that the directive to sidestep debate reflects the party’s unease in defending its record amid growing public discontent.

The CPI(M)’s renewed grassroots push comes at a politically delicate juncture. Assembly elections are scheduled for April - May, months after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) suffered a significant setback in the December local body polls across Kerala.

In response, senior party leaders, including CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, have been visiting homes to explain the party’s position and make a case for a third consecutive Pinarayi Vijayan-led government.

Chennithala, however, has dismissed the campaign as an opportunistic exercise. He argued that voters would see through what he termed the Left’s “sudden humility” -- entering homes, seeking forgiveness and appealing for support only when elections are around the corner.

“After inflicting maximum damage on the public for ten years, this scripted apology will not fool the people,” he said.

According to the Congress leader, public sentiment in Kerala has decisively turned against the Left government due to corruption allegations, administrative high-handedness and a perceived disconnect with ordinary citizens. The surfacing of the CPI(M)’s internal guidelines, he contended, only reinforces the perception that the ruling party is bracing for a hostile reception at the doorstep -- opting for silence and courtesy where answers are increasingly difficult to offer.