In New Delhi, on March 15, the announcement of the election schedule for five state assemblies has created a crucial test for left-leaning parties, who are aiming to maintain their governing position in Kerala, while also seeking to regain lost political ground in West Bengal.
Leaders of left-leaning parties stated that these elections are significant for both defending their existing support base and rebuilding organizational strength in regions where their influence has declined over the past decade.
M.A. Baby, the General Secretary of the CPI(M), said that the left parties are well-prepared for the elections, particularly in Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is seeking a third consecutive term in office.
"We are fully prepared, both organizationally and politically. In Kerala, we have the Left Democratic Front, led by the CPI(M). We have already allocated 99% of the seats. We hope that the CPI(M) will win a third consecutive term and rewrite the political history of Kerala," he stated.
Baby also highlighted the state's achievements, including the eradication of extreme poverty and the absence of communal riots, as factors that strengthen the LDF's prospects.
He further expressed confidence that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, of which the left parties are a part, would return to power with a strong mandate in Tamil Nadu.
"In Puducherry, we aim to defeat the BJP-led government," he added.
Baby acknowledged that the Left Front had faced setbacks in West Bengal, but expressed hope for a revival.
"In West Bengal, the Left Front has experienced some decline. We currently do not have a representative in the legislative assembly. However, we hope that we can make a significant improvement in the performance of the Left this time," he said.
He also stated that issues affecting workers, agricultural laborers, and women would play a significant role in shaping the political landscape.
Referring to Assam, Baby accused the BJP government of alienating minorities through its policies. He expressed hope that a broad political arrangement against the BJP and its allies would achieve substantial progress.
CPI General Secretary D. Raja echoed similar sentiments, stating that the five assembly elections are "politically crucial" and that the removal of voters during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has raised serious questions about the electoral process.
"The Election Commission of India is constitutionally mandated to conduct free and fair elections and ensure a level playing field for all political parties. However, this fairness has been lacking for some time now," he claimed.
Raja claimed that millions of voters had been deleted from the electoral rolls across the five states. "Over 74 lakh voters in Tamil Nadu, approximately 58 lakh in West Bengal, around nine lakh in Kerala, nearly 2.43 lakh in Assam, and more than one lakh in Puducherry have reportedly been deleted from the rolls."
Despite these concerns, he expressed confidence that voters would deliver a decisive verdict this time.
"The people will deliver a decisive verdict. Kerala will return the LDF to power for a historic third term. The people of Tamil Nadu will reaffirm their trust in the Secular Progressive Alliance. In Puducherry, the corrupt and misgoverned NDA regime will come to an end," he asserted.
For the Left parties, the upcoming polls are particularly significant in Kerala, their last major bastion.
The LDF won the 2021 Assembly elections with approximately 45.3% of the vote share, securing 99 of the 140 seats and becoming the first government in the state to win consecutive terms in four decades. In the 2016 election, the LDF had received around 43% of the vote share and formed the government with 91 seats.
However, the Left's performance has been weaker in the Lok Sabha polls.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Left Front won only one seat in the state and secured approximately 32% of the vote share. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, the Left Democratic Front won one of the 20 seats and secured around 33.6% of the vote share, while the Congress-led UDF won 18 seats.
In West Bengal, once the Left's strongest base, the electoral decline has been more pronounced.
The Left Front secured approximately 26% of the vote share in the 2016 Assembly elections, winning 32 seats. But in the 2021 Assembly polls, the Left-Congress alliance failed to win a single seat, with the CPI(M) securing around 4 to 5% of the total votes polled.
In the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Left Front failed to win any seat in West Bengal.