A former district functionary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth organisation attached to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], in Keralam’s Kannur has criticised the alleged sycophantic culture in the party favouring Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan.This is at a time when Mr. Vijayan, who also hails from the district, has been attending political meetings in Kannur to explain the circumstances that resulted in the party-led Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) drubbing in the recent Assembly elections in the State.In a Facebook post on Monday, DYFI former district secretary Manu Thomas said that “Praise for Pinarayi or fear of Pinarayi has been the general nature of all CPI(M) committees, from district committees to the top, since 2005”. Mr. Thomas, a former district committee member of the party who was expelled for not renewing his membership in 2024, said there were many “junior Pinarayis” who had been emulating him.‘Cultural, mental hegemony’“Even when Pinarayi is no more, at least a few are likely to jolt awake from sleep terrified of his arrival.” He pointed out that some people in the party had deeply internalised authoritarian organisational methods, calling it a form of “cultural and mental hegemony” as described by Italian Marxist thinker Antonio Gramsci. “This could have been solved if a couple of upright people had stood up and asked questions. But, you need people with guts to do it, right?” Mr. Thomas asked.The former DYFI leader also said that “[former USSR ruler] Stalin needs only words of praise. There is not even a need to be fearful of him. Because the axe that claimed the life of [Russian revolutionary] Trotsky is still buried beneath the snow. So, let the faithful listen to the explanations.” Published - August 31, 2026 08:03 pm IST