Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 (NationPress) For almost a decade, Pinarayi Vijayan has been a formidable presence in Kerala’s political arena, wielding authority like few Chief Ministers before him.

Within the CPI(M), he has solidified his position as the undisputed leader and the ultimate decision-maker within the government. However, this aura of invincibility is starting to wane — the most significant indicators are emerging from within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) rather than from opposition parties.

The first shot was fired by the CPI, the second-largest partner in the ruling coalition.

Its leadership held a meeting to analyze the LDF’s lackluster performance in the recent local body elections, arriving at a stark conclusion: a need for correction, placing the responsibility directly on CM Vijayan.

In Kerala’s Left politics, where allies typically prefer euphemistic language over direct confrontation, this marks a notable shift. It signifies a transition from hushed discontent to overt signaling.

Moreover, similar sentiments have resonated within the CPI(M). At its own three-day review meeting regarding the electoral setback, a faction of the party articulated — clearly — that it is time for a course correction, with Vijayan expected to spearhead this change.

The underlying message is unmistakable: the leadership approach that once ensured stability and electoral success may now be contributing to the issues faced.

Discussions surrounding age and health have inevitably surfaced.

Vijayan, now over 80, has been dealing with health complications while maintaining his characteristic tough facade.

Although age alone has never disqualified anyone in Kerala politics, the upcoming election campaign could be one of the most demanding the state has ever encountered, prompting valid concerns.

The carefully curated narrative of a third consecutive Vijayan government following the Assembly elections scheduled for April-May is starting to seem less certain.

This predicament reveals a deeper structural challenge for the CPI(M), particularly regarding succession.

The party has faced this dilemma before. In 2016, V.S. Achuthanandan, then the Leader of Opposition and a widely popular mass leader, led the campaign that secured a decisive LDF victory. However, shortly after the win, Achuthanandan was sidelined, paving the way for Vijayan.

Five years later, in 2021, Vijayan himself became the campaign figurehead — leveraging the benefits of incumbency and a strong administrative image shaped during crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic alongside controversies, including the gold smuggling case involving Swapna Suresh.

He succeeded, achieving a rare second consecutive term for the Left.

However, the last five years have been strikingly different. Governance under Vijayan has increasingly centralized, with the Chief Minister viewed as the final authority in both party and government matters.

This concentration of power, once lauded for decisiveness, has now led to stagnation and dissatisfaction.

Controversies — spanning from the lingering implications of the gold smuggling and Sabarimala-related cases to accusations of administrative opacity — have eroded the moral high ground that the Left has traditionally claimed.

The result is a perception that the Vijayan model has reached a deadlock.

For perhaps the first time during his tenure, the Chief Minister appears to be navigating truly turbulent waters, facing criticism not only from opponents but also from allies.

Nevertheless, the CPI(M) leadership is reluctant to concede any ground.

Party state secretary M.V. Govindan has taken a defiantly optimistic stance, expressing confidence that the LDF will secure a guaranteed 60 of the 140 Assembly seats — sufficient, in his view, to establish a third consecutive Left government.

He has pinned his hopes on a systematic, grassroots campaign to regain what was lost in the local body elections, aiming to reach the critical number necessary for governance.

This optimism, however, does little to address the central question that now permeates Kerala’s political conversation: who will succeed Pinarayi?

The lack of a clear successor highlights how deeply the party has tied its fortunes to one individual.

If Vijayan’s health or political influence deteriorates further, the CPI(M) may find itself scrambling — not just for votes, but for leadership.

The diminishing of the “Pinarayi magic,” if that is indeed what is happening, does not automatically signal defeat for the Left. However, it does indicate the end of complacency.

Whether the CPI(M) can reinvent itself, decentralize authority, and present a credible vision for the post-Vijayan era may well determine not only the outcome of the next election but also the future trajectory of the Left Front in Kerala, its only stronghold in the country.