Pinarayi Vijayan, Binoy Viswam lock horns over Deputy Leader of the Opposition post
A dispute has emerged within the Left Democratic Front in Kerala over the Deputy Leader of the Opposition position. Pinarayi Vijayan insists the role belongs to the CPI(M), while Binoy Viswam of the CPI has criticized the stance as lacking political maturity.
Why it matters
Internal friction within political coalitions can impact legislative unity and the effectiveness of the opposition in state governance.
The vexing issue of which party would get the Deputy Leader of the Opposition post in the Keralam Assembly is roiling the Left Democratic Front (LDF), with Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam locking horns over the matter on Saturday (August 22, 2026).
Mr. Vijayan told the media in Thrissur on Saturday morning that there was no doubt that the post of Deputy Leader of the Opposition would go to his party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which leads the Opposition front. He summarily ruled out any chance of the post being given to the CPI, the second-largest constituent of the alliance, which has been vociferous in its demand for the position.
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