A Communist Party of India (Marxist) rally held in Kozhikode on Sunday, 24 August to defend former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan drew a conspicuously low turnout, raising pointed questions about grassroots support for the family at a politically fraught moment. The meeting, held in one of the party's traditional bastions, was marked by rows of empty chairs — a visual that has acquired considerable political weight.

The Meeting and Its Context

The Kozhikode gathering was organised as part of a broader CPI(M) campaign to explain and defend the party's position on the controversy surrounding Veena Vijayan, who has been questioned twice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case. The party sought to project unity and mobilise cadres at a time when the ED investigation has kept the Vijayan family under sustained scrutiny.

Organisers attributed part of the poor attendance to the timing of the event, which coincided with Onam festivities. Critics, however, have been quick to read the thin crowd as something more than a scheduling conflict.

Why the Low Turnout Matters

Kozhikode is historically among the CPI(M)'s most reliable strongholds in Kerala. Investigations involving senior Left leaders have traditionally prompted strong shows of solidarity — party leaders, cadres, and Left sympathisers typically close ranks publicly. The comparatively subdued response this time is notable, and leaders from allied parties within the Left camp have also been less vocal in defending Vijayan and his family than might have been expected.

Notably, Vijayan currently serves as Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, a role that amplifies the political stakes of any perceived erosion in intra-party support.

The ED Investigation and Fallout

The controversy deepened after an ED raid in May this year on a rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram associated with Veena Vijayan. The raid triggered violent protests by CPI(M) activists, during which ED officials were allegedly attacked and their vehicles targeted. Around two dozen party activists were subsequently arrested, and several spent more than 70 days in custody.

According to reports, the prolonged detention of activists who had rallied in support of the Vijayan family may have bred frustration within sections of the rank and file — particularly as the controversy has shown no signs of abating.

Broader Challenges for CPI(M)

The Kozhikode meeting comes at a difficult juncture for the party. The CPI(M) is already grappling with questions over recent electoral setbacks and a perceived disconnect with segments of the electorate. Against that backdrop, the empty chairs carry significance beyond a single poorly attended programme — they may signal that the party leadership faces a harder task than usual in generating the kind of grassroots energy that has historically defined its political identity.

How the party navigates the twin pressures of the ongoing ED probe and internal morale will likely shape its standing ahead of the next electoral cycle in Kerala.