Kerala CPI and CPI(M) dispute deputy opposition leader post amid family criticism

The Communist Party of India (CPI) is pressing the Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the Deputy Opposition Leader position in Kerala's new Assembly. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said the party will not withdraw its claim and added, "We believe the issue can be resolved through discussions. There is no need for conflict over the matter." Talks with CPI(M) officials have so far failed to produce a breakthrough, raising the prospect that the CPI could operate as a separate block if a compromise is not reached.

At the same time, the CPI(M) faces criticism from Vinodini Kodiyeri, widow of former state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. She alleges that senior party leaders neglected the family after his death in 2022, saying no one, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state secretary M. V. Govindan, contacted them. Her remarks have sparked further debate within the party about how senior leaders treat the families of long‑standing members.