UDF govt in Keralam implementing RSS-BJP agenda, says Pinarayi Vijayan

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Keralam Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan speaking during the extended district committee meeting of the CPI(M) in Kozhikode on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

Keralam Opposition Leader and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in the State of implementing the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the BJP.

He was delivering a speech to inaugurate the two-day extended Kozhikode district committee meeting of the party in Kozhikode on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) morning.

Mr. Vijayan said that the latest example of the UDF government’s “subservience” to the RSS-BJP combine was its decision to weaken the State Planning Board. He claimed that the task of preparing various projects under the five-year plan had been given to private consulting agencies. “The BJP government disbanded the National Planning Commission and introduced NITI Aayog. Similarly, by roping in private consultancy firms, the State government has made the Planning Board just a figurehead,” the CPI(M) leader said.

Mr. Vijayan also alleged that the government’s “soft approach” towards the RSS agenda was evident in its ambivalence or subservience in the PM-SHRI controversy, the singing of the National Song Vande Mataram in full at public events, and the alleged bid to “saffronise” State universities. “Both the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister are keeping silent on these issues. They are claiming that there is no need to have a dispute with the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of universities. Well, if there are disputable issues, there should be a dispute,” Mr. Vijayan said.

Another crucial issue was the government’s decision to implement the “anti-employee” Labour Codes introduced by the Centre, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Mr. Vijayan claimed that the victory of Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates in the recent local body bypolls was an indication of the revival of the CPI(M) and the LDF.

He also criticised Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the official had been reduced to someone merely executing the wishes of the Union government.

Mr. Vijayan said that Mr. Kumar, a Kerala cadre IAS officer, had earlier faced disciplinary action after his tenure as Secretary, Public Works Department, for some of his “misdeeds”. Though the LDF government led by V.S. Achuthanandan tried to book him for his actions, the next government protected him, Mr. Vijayan alleged. “Mr. Kumar was sent to the Central cadre under [Congress leader] A.K. Antony, who was a Union Minister then, and the disciplinary action was dropped,” he added.

Over 120 delegates, including district committee members, representatives of area committees and functionaries of the party’s class and mass organisations from across the district, are participating in the two-day extended district committee meeting.

After the inaugural session, district secretary M. Mehboob presented a report, based on which the delegates engaged in group discussions. This was followed by an open debate, which will continue on Wednesday. Mr. Mehboob will later respond to the points raised by the delegates. Any decision on restructuring the existing district committee is expected to be taken thereafter.

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