Results of the recently concluded assembly elections point to various churnings in the Indian political landscape. One, the CPI(M)-led LDF’s defeat in Kerala despite historical initiatives in development and welfare calls for serious introspection on our part. Two, BJP’s victory in West Bengal, re-election in Assam and the NDA being elected back to office in Puducherry underlines the consolidation of BJP’s electoral prowess. Three, the resounding emergence of a new entrant like the TVK in Tamil Nadu points to the fact that the people are eager for and hopeful of a positive change.

Kerala

As far as Kerala is concerned, the outgoing LDF government was able to implement almost all the promises made to the people in the manifesto. By solving extreme poverty and making social security pensions universal, it had become a model for the entire country in terms of welfare. Even amidst all the fiscal and governance constraints imposed by the union government, the state was able to make giant strides in agricultural, industrial and infrastructural development. Under the LDF government, Kerala had emerged as a leader among Indian states, in the struggle to protect our country’s federal characteristics. Over the last 10 years, Kerala even remained as the only state in the country in which no instance of communal violence had taken place. Despite all this, the LDF was defeated after a decade in office.

Also, for the first time in Kerala’s history, the BJP has been able to win three seats in the Assembly. It is a dangerous development, and the Party will work hard to arrest it. However, it needs to be pointed out that the duplicitous conduct of the Congress, which is manifested in their soft approach towards communal forces, has also contributed to the growth of the BJP in Kerala. This certainly needs to be exposed as well.

The setback that the CPI(M) and the LDF suffered in this election is unprecedented. In 5 districts, the LDF does not have any representation at all in the Assembly. However, in 1977, when the entire country voted against Congress and the atrocities committed under the Emergency, the people of Kerala voted the Congress alliance back into office. The CPI(M) led opposition had less than 30 seats in the Assembly. In the Lok Sabha, we did not win even a single seat. But in 1980, we were able to stage a comeback.

The Kerala State Committee of the Party has drawn up an organisational exercise to reach out to every CPI(M) member – over 5 lakh in total. Those who are organisationally part of over 35,000 branches, local committees, area committees and district committees would be met and in-depth discussions would take place as to why sections of Party sympathisers and LDF supporters did not vote for us. From the entire Party membership and from our sympathisers, through free and frank discussions, we propose to find out the road map for rectification and course correction. We want criticism and self-criticism about our shortcomings, from top to bottom. Corrections and rectifications would also be carried out at all levels.

Assam, Puducherry and West Bengal

The BJP’s performance in Assam, Puducherry and West Bengal underlines an ascendancy of the Hindutva-communal, right-wing forces. It is a matter of deep concern for all the secular, progressive and democratic forces. In West Bengal, they benefited from the strong anti-incumbency against the corrupt TMC government, the misuse of agencies under the union government as well as the machinations of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the SIR exercise. Their victories in Assam and West Bengal were achieved on the basis of a communal, divisive and vitriolic hate campaign. Huge amounts of money were also spent in both states. In both states, we have roughly maintained our vote share and in West Bengal we have won one seat. So, the voice of the CPI(M) will be once again heard in the West Bengal Assembly, in defence of worker’s rights, secularism and federalism.

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, it was the timely intervention of the Left parties under the leadership of the CPI(M) that thwarted the BJP’s efforts to subvert the people’s mandate. We have seen Governors acting as political agents of the BJP-RSS combine in states where the opposition is in power. In Tamil Nadu too, the situation was not any different after the election results were announced. There were even efforts to install a government that is favourable to the RSS, by forming an opportunistic alliance of most parties, under the leadership of AIADMK, who contested the elections in an alliance with the BJP. The Governor’s reluctance to administer the oath of office to the single largest party, despite its leader meeting him multiple times to stake claim, needs to be seen in the light of such developments too. Therefore, it was imperative on the part of the CPI(M) to ensure that no formation which includes BJP in it comes to power in Tamil Nadu and also to prevent the state from being put under President’s Rule, which would mean direct rule of the BJP.

Austerity Measures

The Prime Minister’s announcement of austerity measures, coming immediately after the declaration of election results, lays bare the hollowness of the BJP-led union government’s repeated assertions that the Indian economy remains stable and secure. The emerging economic situation points unmistakably towards a looming recession, driven in large measure by the continuing conflict in West Asia and its severe repercussions for the global economy. Rather than placing the burden on ordinary people by asking them to cut down consumption and embrace austerity, the government should stand alongside countries of the Global South in demanding that the United States halt its military aggression and ensure uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Had the Union government acted with strategic foresight by diversifying India’s sources of oil imports, the country would not have been pushed into such a vulnerable position today.

With the agricultural season set to commence next month, ensuring timely access to fertilizers for farmers must become an urgent national priority. Any disruption in fertilizer supply will adversely impact food production and, in turn, deepen the crisis affecting both the livelihoods of millions of Indians and the broader economy. It is incumbent upon the union government to take immediate and effective measures to secure fertilizer supplies and distribute them without delay. Instead, the Modi government has failed to protect the country’s economic interests by aligning itself completely with the US-Israel bloc, whose aggression against Iran has directly contributed to the economic difficulties confronting India today. These growing economic vulnerabilities were consciously concealed from the public in the run-up to the elections, as part of an attempt to secure electoral gains through misinformation and deception.

Labour Codes

The BJP-led union government’s art of deception stands further exposed by its decision to operationalise the Labour Codes through the notification of the Central Rules barely four days after the election results were declared. Although the government intended to implement these Labour Codes from April 1, 2026, it deliberately postponed the notification until the conclusion of the Assembly elections. In doing so, it has disregarded the widespread struggles and demonstrations by workers demanding fair minimum wages, humane working hours, and dignified living conditions. This once again underlines the anti-worker orientation of the BJP. In this context, the Party has called upon state governments to utilise the legislative authority granted to them under the Constitution of India to introduce suitable amendments to the Labour Codes and defend workers’ rights, rather than enforcing the newly notified Central Rules in their present form.

Over the past two months, the National Capital Region (NCR) has experienced an unprecedented wave of militant and spontaneous working-class agitations. The protests were led predominantly by contract employees, migrant workers, and those employed in the informal sector, many of whom were young workers entering the workforce in recent years. In almost all instances, these struggles emerged organically without the leadership of established trade unions. The state responded with repression, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of workers, several of whom continue to remain incarcerated. Nevertheless, the scale and determination of these protests, along with the nationwide attention they attracted, compelled the respective state governments to announce increases in minimum wages, even if those revisions remain grossly inadequate.

In these turbulent times, when the lives and livelihoods of people are negatively impacted, the red flag will be the only real solace available to the people. Based on the feedback given by the people in the recently concluded Assembly elections, we will take up the issues affecting the people with renewed vigour. We will also take corrective measures to ensure that the Party grows further, amidst all challenges.