Overview
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said giving SNDP leader Vellappally Natesan a lift was an impromptu, non-political act and rejected Natesan’s 'betrayer' jibe at the CPI while affirming the ally’s importance to the LDF.
- CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam declared that the LDF 'should not become Vellappally,' said Natesan was not tasked with grading the government, and noted he would not allow Natesan to travel in his car.
- Natesan, whose comments have drawn accusations of demonising minorities, dismissed criticism over the car ride, called detractors 'betrayers,' and predicted a third Vijayan term as his own assertion.
- Internal reviews by the CPI and sections of the CPI(M) flagged concerns over centralized leadership and urged introspection after the Left’s weaker-than-expected local body results.
- The CPI announced a house-to-house outreach from January 15 to 30 to reconnect with voters, as the Congress seeks to build on local poll gains and the BJP points to its Thiruvananthapuram Corporation victory.