CPI(M) dumps Palakkad district secretary after election setback
The change in district secretary during an interim organisational review is unusual; the move follows the party’s setbacks in the Assembly and local-body elections in Palakkad, traditionally a strong district for the CPI(M)
On October 4, 2026, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) removed Palakkad district secretary E.N. Suresh Babu and appointed former MLA V. Chenthamarakshan to the position following the party's poor electoral performance. The decision came during an extended district committee meeting to review the party's recent results.
The CPI(M) had suffered losses in the Assembly and local-body elections in Palakkad, a traditionally strong district for the party. The LDF also gained three Assembly seats from the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the April elections. The CPI(M) recorded a 67,000 vote decrease compared to the 2021 Assembly election. Party members demanded Babu's removal, citing arrogance, high-handedness, and a lack of maturity in managing party affairs.
The meeting also criticized the district leadership for exacerbating factionalism and rebel issues, which contributed to the losses in Chittur, Kongad, and Thrithala. The Chittur defeat was mainly attributed to the Kozhinjampara rebel issue. Members mentioned a decline in votes at Nalleppilly and Peruvemba, while Kongad's loss was attributed to organizational problems.
Despite having sufficient strength, the CPI(M) still lost the Kongad seat. Local factionalism was blamed for Thrithala's defeat. The meeting further criticized the leadership for not resolving rebel disputes and for mishandling group-level differences in various area committees. As part of the organizational changes, eight new members were added to the district committee, and six area secretaries were designated as special invitees.
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