Brand Pinarayi: Call him the person, the cult, or just, Comrade Vijayan!

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Left obtained it proper, as soon as once more. And it’s official now. Kerala will stay the one Left bastion within the nation for no less than one other 5 years. The largest takeaway from the ballot is undoubtedly Brand Pinarayi. 

The ‘dhoti-clad Modi’ – as he was as soon as criticised by a Left ally – has proved himself to be essentially the most sought-after political character for the Left in current instances. The politician with an anti-media profile, the Communist strongman went on to reinvent himself to be the tallest Communist chief of the current instances.

If one was to view the Left from the shores of Kerala, it may properly be the launch of a real Leftist different on the nationwide degree too. Given the present political state of affairs, it will not be stunning if Pinarayi Vijayan emerges because the face of a United Opposition to tackle Narendra Modi in 2024.

ALSO READ: Brand Pinarayi victorious, Kerala trusts CM to steer state via troubled instances

In reality, Pinarayi has come a great distance from what he was again in 2016, when he took over the reigns of the state authorities. The plenty who as soon as used to acknowledge the harsh-faced, no-nonsense Communist, grudgingly appear to have lastly discovered their saviour in Pinarayi. 

The back-to-back calamities that rocked the state within the final 5 years contributed majorly in shaping Pinarayi not simply because the ‘Captain’ of the ship, but additionally received over the plenty who, until then, had been averse to his virtually dictatorial administrative type of functioning. This sweeping electoral verdict can also be his reply to his critics inside the social gathering and the Left entrance who had been baying for his blood after the 2019 Lok Sabha ballot debacle.

The resounding victory with 99 seats has not solely come as a significant morale booster for the 2 Left events – CPM and CPI – which have been decreased to a mere patch within the nationwide political state of affairs, however has additionally given hopes of a re-emergence for the 2 Communist events.

With hardly any presence in Parliament, such a victorious margin was important for the 2 Left events to stay related, given the present ever-changing political permutations and mixtures. Given the present nationwide state of affairs the place the Sangh Parivar politics has been going through stiff opposition from a number of pockets, this victory has multi-dimensional proportions, opines CPM politburo member MA Baby.  

“At a time when challenges posed by the BJP are manifold, it shows that the country has no future without a Left alternative. During these trying Covid times, the state government was able to showcase itself as the real alternative. The formation of a  Left government will strengthen the ongoing struggles and activities to take it forward for another five years,” he affirmed.It is now time for the Left to work out a long-term plan on learn how to completely remodel Kerala within the subsequent ten years. If the federal government follows a manifesto-driven path, it could possibly be really inspirational each on the nationwide and  worldwide degree too. 

Political commentator J Prabhash nevertheless feels that Pinarayi has by no means evinced curiosity in ever stepping politically past the borders of Kerala. “He wants to confine himself to Kerala. He never had national aspirations. He could have been the catalyst to bring together regional parties opposing the BJP, but age is against him. An apt leadership role should ideally originate from the party central leadership,” he feels. 

Having stated that, the broader scope of the folks’s verdict now stays to be seen. At the beginning of this second innings, the Kannur strongman has clearly overshadowed the Left patriarchs in claiming his place within the Leftist political firmament in Kerala.

Pinarayi has after all not solely scripted historical past, however has extra importantly drawn a transparent divide within the state’s political historical past  – the Before and After Pinarayi eras.