MV Govindan appointed CPI(M) state secretary: Party, Kerala government set for change?

Overhaul on the cards

For the national leadership of the party — which now has clout only in Kerala, after facing severe setbacks in former strongholds West Bengal and Tripura — its supremacy in the state is paramount to retaining any relevance at the national level.

MV Govindan, new CPI(M) state secretary in Kerala. (South First)

For the state leadership, the immediate challenge is preparing the organisational machinery for the 2024 Lok Sabha election in which it has to win at least half of the 20 seats in Kerala. In the previous election, the party retained only a single seat.

Though Govindan has not yet resigned from the state Cabinet and responded to questions on a possible Cabinet reshuffle with a “wait and see”, he is expected to quit in the coming week and devote himself entirely to organisational matters.

Current Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was the state’s electricity minister in 1998 when the CPI(M) chose him as state secretary following Chadayan Govindan’s demise. Vijayan resigned and took control of the party.

With Govindan leaving the Cabinet, there is a strong possibility of the party overhauling it, bringing in some veterans to replace the many first-time ministers who are seemingly overwhelmed by their duties.

New faces likely in Vijayan Cabinet

The CPI(M) has to find two new faces for the cabinet as the Fisheries and Cultural Affairs portfolios are also vacant because of the resignation of Saji Cheriyan following charges of denigrating the Indian Constitution in a public speech.

Sources close to Govindan confirmed that the party was seriously considering the return of hugely popular health minister KK Shailaja, better known as Shailaja Teacher, to the Cabinet. It was also looking to permit Assembly speaker MB Rajesh to vacate the post and join the Cabinet.

The two leaders are known for their integrity and popularity. Reshuffling of portfolios is also on the cards as poor performance by most ministers has become a matter of grave concern for the CPI(M). For the party organisational set-up, Govindan is regarded as the best choice.

Who is Govindan?

In its traditional stronghold Kannur, Govindan is a party strongman known for his humility, clarity of thought, and ability to interpret Marxist ideology. A no-nonsense leader, Govindan is an organiser who has proven his mettle by leading the party’s youth wing — the DYFI — and farmers’ wing — the  Karshaka Sanghom. He has large-scale ground-level connectivity with cadres.

MV Govindan, new CPI(M) state secretary in Kerala. (South First)

Govindan can also fend off the growing allegations that party affairs in Kerala have been reduced to a single-man shown by Vijayan, who has concentrated in his hands all the organisational-level and administrative powers.

A member of the party’s highest decision-making body, the Central Committee, Govindan was Vijayan’s crisis manager for a long time.

A former chief editor of party mouthpiece Deshabhimani, he is also an accomplished author. He represents the Taliparamba constituency in the state Assembly.

One of the biggest challenges before Govindan is steering the party through its ongoing disputes with Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, mainly over the alleged issue of nepotism in the case of appointments in various universities in the state.

His leadership skills will be crucial when the government moves ahead with its bill clipping the Governor’s wings as Chancellor of state universities. He will have the gigantic task of keeping the party and the government together.