‘Captain' to ‘new Kerala architect': Pinarayi Vijayan steps up 2026 run
With Kerala headed to the Assembly elections in less than a year, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF has started gearing up for the high-stakes battle with the Opposition Congress-led UDF, projecting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the 'architect of new Kerala'.
In May 2021, Vijayan had created history as the first incumbent CM in the history of Kerala to have assumed office for a second consecutive term after leading the LDF to a resounding victory.
Stepping up its 2026 poll preparations, the CPI(M), in its public outreach, has been showcasing Vijayan's image with a tagline 'Thudarum (will continue)'.
On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of his government 2.0, which was marked on Tuesday, Vijayan, 79, has been touring all 14 districts of the state, meeting people from different walks of life. In his interactions with them, he has been highlighting his government's various schemes and initiatives while responding to their queries and suggestions.
Last Saturday, Vijayan held a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram with several professionals from different sectors to hear their views on development.
The CPI(M) stalwart met prominent persons from the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities on Sunday in Palakkad. On Monday, Vijayan had a meeting with leading faces from various cultural fields in Thrissur.
Along with these interactions, the CM has also been holding high-level regional meetings in different parts of the state, attended by Cabinet ministers and senior officials, to review the progress of various projects.
In all recent public meetings of the CPI(M) and its allies, their leaders have been making a common refrain that a 'Nava Kerala (new Kerala)' has risen during the Vijayan regime.
In the 2021 Assembly polls, the CPI(M)'s campaign had projected Vijayan as 'Kerala's Captain' for steering the state during some major crises including the 2018 floods and 2020-21 Covid pandemic. The incumbent LDF returned to power in the polls smoothly, bagging 99 seats of 140 as against the UDF's 40.
Now, aiming to pull off a hat-trick in the face of a resurgent Congress, the CPI(M) has flagged the development issue as its key plank, building a campaign around Kerala 'before and after 2016 (the year when the Vijayan government 1.0 was formed)' while projecting Vijayan as the leader 'who delivered many development projects reckoned as impossible over the years'.
On May 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Rs 8,800-crore Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala. Speaking at the function there, Vijayan called the port's commissioning 'Kerala's dream come true', saying 'what was deemed impossible once has now become a reality after decades of uncertainty'.
Last week, addressing an LDF rally in Thrissur, Vijayan also played up the same theme. 'The creation of new Kerala is not a concept, it is a reality. Mega projects, which had been abandoned during the previous UDF regime, had been executed,'' he claimed, referring to projects including the National Highway widening, GAIL pipeline and the Edamon-Kochi power transmission that, he added, gained momentum after the LDF government took charge nine years ago.
Although Vijayan's first stint as the CM was hit by various alleged scams including the 2020 gold smuggling case, his second tenure has not seen any major scandal so far.
In the Kerala CPI(M), Vijayan is still considered by many as 'the final word' on organisational matters too. The party has made it clear that he will again spearhead the LDF's campaign in the upcoming polls.
Vijayan's task is cut out as the LDF is set to face a formidable challenge from the UDF. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the UDF bagged 18 seats out of 20 as against just one seat of the LDF, with the BJP managing to win its first-ever seat in the state.
During the CPI(M)'s 24th Party Congress in Madurai last month, the party gave Vijayan an exemption from the 75-year age limit norm, naming him as a member of the Politburo as well as the Central Committee.
Following his election as the new CPI(M) general secretary then, M A Baby, when asked if Vijayan would lead the party in the 2026 Kerala polls, told reporters: 'Pinarayi Vijayan now is the leader of the Left Front in Kerala. He is the Chief Minister. Vijayan naturally will lead the Left Front in terms of its political and organisational campaign. Why are you discussing with such curiosity now the question of who will be the Chief Minister in the event we retain power? When it comes, we will decide. We will make a good decision.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
GR on contract jobs in govt schools draws teachers' ire
P Tired of too many ads? go ad free now une: Teachers' associations have opposed a govt resolution on appointing teachers for sports and arts on a clock-hour basis for classes VI to VIII in schools run by local bodies. Mahendra Ganpule, the spokesperson of Maharashtra School Principals' Federation, said the remuneration of Rs 150 per hour is too low for a teaching job, and all appointments must be made on a regular basis to ensure quality and continuity in govt schools. "This policy is unfair for unemployed, qualified, and trained teacher candidates in the state and this will undermine the quality of education. According to this policy, teachers will be paid only Rs 150 per hour but they will have a workload of 48 hours per week, equal to full-time teachers, but the remuneration that they will get is only Rs 12,000 per month. Not only are the unemployed teachers being cheated, but the recruitment process is also unclear and opaque. We demand that the govt revoke this GR and recruit teachers on a regular basis through the 'Pavitra Portal'," he said. The GR, issued on June 5, talks about appointment of teachers temporarily for every 100 students. However, Nitin Memane, a ZP teacher, pointed out that there are hardly any school in rural and remote areas in the state that fulfils this criteria. "I teach in Bhor taluka, where there would be 100 schools having classes VI to VIII, but none with a strength of 100 students. Purandar and Velhe taluka also share a similar fate. Baramati, which is the most developed taluka, hardly has any school run by a local body having 100 students in classes VI to VIII. If the govt really wants rural students to benefit from extracurricular activities, they must appoint teachers on a full-time basis without considering student strength or at least a lowered strength." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sunil Borole, secretary of Arts Teachers' Association, said they have been fighting for permanent positions for a long time but to no avail. "According to the rules, a teacher can teach all subjects in primary classes. But arts is not like any other subject. You require skills for it. If the students don't know the basics, how will they develop the skill? If there are no jobs, why would students take up a course in college? The same goes for sports education. We need sports teachers. How can we talk about winning medals in sports for India when we don't have sports teachers to nurture the talent?" he said.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘This month, it will be done': Al Green issues bold impeachment warning to Trump
Congressman Al Green has reignited the push to impeach Donald Trump, vowing a floor vote this month on articles of impeachment. Calling Trump an'authoritarian president,' Green declared Congress the 'court of last resort.' He cited Trump's defiance of the Supreme Court and control over the GOP as key threats to democracy. Pledging peaceful protest, litigation, and legislation, Green warned: 'This is a moral imperative. Impeachment is coming and it will be done.' Show more Show less
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
MCD's Standing Committee polls: BJP, AAP file nominations
With the elections for the two key posts of MCD's Standing Committee slated to be held on June 12, the AAP and the ruling BJP named their candidates for the posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson on Friday. The Standing Committee is an 18-member body, which gives the go-ahead for civic services costing Rs 5 crore and above. Due to a tussle between the AAP and the BJP, its formation was in limbo since the December 2022 MCD elections. However, this week, with the election of all 18 members, the formation process inched closer to completion. The BJP has filed the nominations of councillors Satya Sharma and Sunder Singh for the posts of chairperson and deputy chairperson. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and Leader of the House Parvesh Wahi, were present. From the AAP, Praveen Kumar has filed nominations for the posts of chairperson and Mohini Jeenwal for the post of deputy chairperson. Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang said that they have given preference to their senior-most councillors for the nomination. The BJP has 11 councillors in the standing committee, the AAP has 7. The BJP has 11 councillors in the standing committee, the AAP has 7. 'It is a matter of joy for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that the Standing Committee is being constituted, which will strengthen development within the Corporation. He further said that in the absence of the Standing Committee, significant development projects could not be planned, but now all members will work positively and provide enhanced civic amenities to the people of Delhi,' Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said.
