C Divakaran suspects plot behind Left debacle

Thiruvananthauram: CPI leader C.Divakaran on Friday skipped the party state executive committee meeting held at M.N. Smarakam to evaluate the Lok Sabha poll outcome.

Mr Divakaran, who came third in Thiruvananthauram constituency, is reportedly upset with the huge defeat. The CPI leader has expressed concern over the manner in which the LDF lost the support of people across the state. Calling for frank assessment of the results at different levels, the CPI leader said the party leadership should frankly share the mistakes with the people and assure them that these would be rectified at the earliest.

The Left leaders need to go down to the people instead of hanging on to protocol.

Mr Divakaran said the Left had experienced such a big defeat for the first time in the state. This needs to be examined in depth. "We may win or lose elections. But the defeat clearly indicates that there was a organised move to defeat the LDF in the state," he added.

He said the LDF will have to evaluate the poll outcome at length and detect the mistakes. "My party will examine how such a massive defeat happened in the state. During the two-month-long campaign I never sensed the possibility of such a big defeat. In the public meetings, rallies, road shows and interactions with the people there was no indication that the Left would face defeat. But it is clear that we failed to read the pulse of the people.  We could not foresee the debacle. In my experience we still have a long way to go to understand what people want," he added.

He said Sabarimala may have been one of the factors but it is certainly not the main reason behind the LDF defeat. "Those who brought Sabarimala issue lost badly in the polls. So how can one conclude that Sabarimala was the main issue," he added.