Kerala LDF's Deputy LoP Fight Pits CPI Against CPI(M)
· India · Indian Express, The Hindu
The CPI has staked a claim for the Deputy Leader of Opposition post in the Kerala Assembly, breaking the long-standing arrangement under which both the Leader of Opposition and Deputy LoP posts have gone to the CPI(M) when the Left Democratic Front is in Opposition. The CPI(M), which holds 26 of the 35 LDF seats against the CPI's eight, has refused to give up the post, with LoP Pinarayi Vijayan saying he will write to the Speaker recommending a CPI(M) nominee. The Indian Union Muslim League has backed the CPI's demand, adding a new dimension to the dispute. The row follows the LDF's sharp slide in the May 2026 Assembly elections, where it was reduced to 35 seats in the 140-member House. The CPI argues the Left needs collective leadership to stage a comeback; the CPI(M) cites tradition dating back to the LDF's formation in 1980.
Why it matters
The public disagreement over a single Opposition post has prevented the LDF from projecting a united front against the Satheesan-led UDF government, which recently marked 100 days in office. It also signals a recalibration of bargaining power within the LDF after its electoral rout, with smaller allies like the CPI and IUML testing the CPI(M)'s dominance.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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