In New Delhi, on March 16, the announcement of the election schedule for five state assemblies has created a crucial electoral test for the Left parties. These parties are aiming to maintain their position as the ruling force in Kerala, while also trying to regain lost political ground in West Bengal.
Leaders of the Left parties stated that these elections are significant both for defending their existing positions and rebuilding their 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 is 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 percent of the seats. We hope that we will be able to demonstrate the political strength of the CPI(M) and win a third consecutive term," he said.
Baby also mentioned that the Left government's "remarkable achievements" have strengthened its position in the state.
"Kerala is the only state where extreme poverty has been completely eradicated. This is also the only state where there have been no communal riots," he stated.
Baby expressed confidence that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, which includes the Left parties, would return to power in Tamil Nadu with a strong mandate.
"In Puducherry, our aim will be to defeat the BJP-led government," he added.
Baby acknowledged that the Left Front had experienced setbacks in West Bengal, but said that the parties are aiming for a revival.
"In West Bengal, the Left Front had to face some challenges. We don't have a representative in the legislative assembly. This time, we hope to make a significant improvement in the performance of the Left," he said. "If we can convince a significant portion of the people, we can regain our position."
He stated that issues affecting workers, agricultural laborers, and women would play a key role in shaping the political landscape in the state.
Referring to Assam, Baby alleged that the policies of the BJP government have alienated the minorities. He expressed hope that the broad political arrangement against the BJP and its allies would be able to make some significant gains.
CPI General Secretary D. Raja echoed similar sentiments, stating that the five assembly elections are "politically crucial." He also alleged 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. This fairness has been absent for some time now," he claimed.
Raja stated that millions of voters have 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 removed 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 stronghold.
The LDF won the 2021 Assembly elections with approximately 45.3 percent of the vote, securing 99 out of 140 seats and becoming the first government in four decades in the state to win consecutive terms. In the 2016 election, the LDF had secured roughly 43 percent of the vote 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 percent of the vote. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, the Left Democratic Front won one of the 20 seats and secured about 33.6 percent of the vote, while the Congress-led UDF won 18 seats.
In West Bengal, once the Left's strongest base, the electoral decline has been even more significant.
The Left Front secured approximately 26 percent of the vote 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 percent of the total votes polled.
In the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Left Front failed to win any seat in West Bengal.