Pinarayi accuses Kunhikrishnan of joining hands with CPI(M)’s rivals to defeat party in Payyanur
Pinarayi Vijayan has blamed former party leader V. Kunhikrishnan for the CPI(M)'s electoral defeat in the Payyannur constituency. He accused Kunhikrishnan of colluding with political rivals to undermine the party's credibility.
Why it matters
Internal party conflicts and vote leakage are significant factors in the shifting political landscape of Kerala's assembly elections.
Keralam Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday (August 29, 2026) accused Independent MLA V. Kunhikrishnan of joining hands with the rivals of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and working against it, which he said contributed to the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) defeat in Payyannur in the Assembly election.
Mr. Vijayan was speaking at a CPI(M) programme organised to explain the party’s position on its defeat in the Payyannur Assembly constituency, considered one of its strongholds.
Mr. Kunhikrishnan, a former CPI(M) leader, had raised corruption allegations against party leaders in Payyannur and was later expelled. He subsequently contested as an Independent candidate backed by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and won the seat.
Mr. Vijayan said the party’s defeat in Payyannur could not be explained merely by factors within Keralam, as the constituency had traditionally enjoyed strong support for the CPI(M) and the LDF.
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