Pinarayi Vijayan
| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has said the defeat suffered by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Assembly elections should not be seen as the end of the party or the front, asserting that they will return with greater strength and wider public support.Speaking at the inauguration of the EMS Mandiram at Nediyenga in Sreekandapuram on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) and at a meeting in memory of former Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar at Kalliassery, he said the CPI(M) had overcome many similar phases in the past and would regain the confidence of the people.Mr. Vijayan said political opponents should not celebrate the LDF’s defeat excessively, adding that the front would win back the trust it had lost. According to him, people felt that a change was good for democracy and that sentiment contributed to the LDF’s defeat.He said the LDF government had only one objective—to lead the State to progress and improve the living standards of the people. Development initiatives had been implemented to ensure that every region experienced the benefit of growth, he said.Mr. Vijayan claimed that the government had pursued inclusive and socially just development over the past 10 years, ensuring that no region was left behind. Kerala had progressed in a model manner during this period, he added.Stating that the continuation of such development was important, he said the CPI(M) did not insist that only the LDF could carry it forward. Since the people had delivered their verdict, it was now the responsibility of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to govern in a manner beneficial to the State’s progress, he said.He added that the CPI(M) would extend constructive support to measures aimed at the State’s development. However, if the government acted against the interests or aspirations of the people, the party would strongly oppose such moves. Mr. Vijayan also warned that the CPI(M) would emerge as a powerful Opposition if any attempt was made to derail development projects in the State.Earlier, he accused the Union government of acting in the interest of corporates while turning a blind eye to the problems faced by ordinary people.He alleged that the Centre was increasingly harming farmers and pointed to the sharp rise in fertilizer prices, saying it had made the lives of common people more difficult. People were finding it impossible to live the way they used to live, he said.Mr. Vijayan also accused the Centre of attempting to destroy the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. He said the party would take up greater responsibilities in the coming period and added that the trust of the people remained the CPI(M)’s greatest strength.Referring to international developments, he said unilateral actions by the United States were pushing the world into crisis and claimed that NATO countries had begun taking positions against the U.S. Published - May 19, 2026 08:18 pm IST
