Red Eyes

Pragmatism has often preceded ideology in Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's decision-making in Left-ruled Kerala

- N.K. Bhoopesh

IN 2018, when the Supreme Court pronounced its judgement allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala Temple, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), then the ruling party in Kerala, saw in it an opportunity to firmly oppose what it viewed as rising conservatism in society. At a public meeting in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared that the government would implement the court's order and help women who wished to visit the shrine. “We won't change our stance even if we are defeated in the election. Our stand is for social renaissance, and that won't change for a few votes,” he said, positioning himself at the forefront of the battle for gender justice at a time when most political parties and influential caste groups opposed the verdict.

Eight years on, however, that combative stance appears to have softened. After facing electoral setbacks, the Left government adopted a markedly different position, informing the Supreme Court—which is considering review petitions on the issue—that matters relating to faith should be addressed in consultation with religious leaders. In effect, critics argue, this marked a significant departure from its earlier, unequivocal stand. The Congress and the BJP ridiculed the government for making a U-turn and ultimately converging with the position they had taken when the verdict was delivered. In the run-up to the 2016 Assembly election, Pinarayi met a few senior journalists separately at his flat near the party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. The 2016 election was crucial for the party for two reasons. First, the CPI(M) was out of power in Kerala, and a victory was essential to retain its relevance on the national electoral map. Second—and perhaps more importantly for the party—the election signalled the return of Pinarayi to parliamentary politics after nearly two decades. He had decided to enter the fray.