Former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader and Payyannur MLA V. Kunhikrishnan has rejected Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegation that internal moves to weaken the CPI(M) and tie-ups with other parties had caused the party’s defeat in Payyannur in the recent Assembly elections, saying that the party leadership should examine its own failures and the reasons for the people’s verdict.

Reacting to Mr. Vijayan’s remark at a CPI(M) political explanation meeting in Payyannur on Saturday (August 29, 2026), Mr. Kunhikrishnan said there was no attempt to correct the organisational and political shortcomings he had been highlighting for years. “They have not said anything substantially different even now. There is no attempt at correction,” he told on Sunday (August 30, 2026).

Mr. Kunhikrishnan said the CPI(M) leadership could not blame the voters for being misled when it had failed to explain why it had been unable to convince them. The people had heard the arguments of both sides, he said, and had ultimately voted for him.

Mr. Vijayan had alleged that attempts were made from within the party leadership to weaken the CPI(M) and establish relationships that damaged the party. He also said such leaders did things that a communist should not do. He also said Mr. Kunhikrishnan had become a “tool in the hands of the enemy” and accused him of betraying the party.

On UDF support

Mr. Kunhikrishnan rejected the charge that expelled CPI(M) members had struck deals with another party before deciding to contest the election. He said the support of the United Democratic Front (UDF) had been offered only after he had entered the electoral contest.

He questioned the CPI(M)’s appeal to “those who went astray” to return after correcting their mistakes. “They have not said they will accept us if we return after correcting our mistakes,” he said, referring to the absence of any clear commitment from the leadership.

In a social media post, Mr. Kunhikrishnan said Mr. Vijayan’s explanation reminded him of the dilemma faced by the communist leaders who had once been forced to defend controversial actions taken by their own governments. He questioned whether the present leadership was similarly trying to shift responsibility for the Payyannur defeat to party workers instead of accepting its own mistakes.

Mr. Kunhikrishnan said the CPI(M)’s Central Committee report had acknowledged organisational weaknesses, including arrogance, corruption, nepotism and extravagant lifestyle of leaders. The report had also referred to lapses in candidate selection in Payyannur and Taliparamba, he said.

Flays district secretary

He criticised CPI(M) district secretary K.K. Ragesh’s defence of the decision to field T.I. Madhusoodanan in Payyannur again and his assertion that there had been no misappropriation of party funds. Mr. Kunhikrishnan said the explanation itself exposed questions over the utilisation of funds. He recalled that he had released the accounts after auditing them, as directed by the party, and that delays and repeated audits had already been explained.

Mr. Kunhikrishnan said the voters in Payyannur had shattered the CPI(M)’s confidence that the constituency would remain an “iron fortress” irrespective of the candidate. Those questioning the party were initially ridiculed and attempts were made to intimidate opponents, he alleged.

He said dissatisfaction with the CPI(M) was not confined to Payyannur and cited similar questions over financial accountability, including in the North Malabar Education Society. He also referred to earlier allegations against leaders and the “party leadership’s effort to protect them,” saying the controversy surrounding former Democratic Youth Federation of India leader Manu Thomas’s exit was another example.

Rejecting the suggestion that he was acting against the party, Mr. Kunhikrishnan said his allegiance was to communist ideology and truth rather than to individual leaders. He also criticised the leadership over allegations surrounding the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. pay-off controversy and questioned Mr. Vijayan’s claims of having clean hands.

He said threats, political explanation meetings or attempts to silence dissent would not stop the campaign he had begun. “Even if some of us are eliminated, those who remain will continue the struggle with great determination,” he said, adding that the political consciousness and values of his group would remain unchanged and that the struggle based on truth would continue.