THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretariat decided to probe the role of

factor in the party’s humiliating failure in Lok Sabha polls. A meeting of the state secretariat, attended by senior leaders including

and state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, concluded that there was a major drain from CPM’s traditional vote bank. Till the counting day, CPM leaders – including Vijayan – had taken a position that Sabarimala issue won’t affect the party’s poll prospects.

CPM’s traditional vote bank largely consists of Hindu voters and the party felt the campaigns revolving around Sabarimala had some impact in alienating them. “Right-wing forces have won to an extent by misleading a section of the believers. The party will specifically probe this factor,” said the statement issued by CPM state secretariat.

CPM decided to examine the causes of defeat at all levels. From booth committee to state committee, there will be detailed analysis and examination of the result in the coming days. The secretariat found the setback to be temporary and said the confidence of the people could be won back in due course.

“The Left approached voters with slogans of unseating Narendra Modi government, forming a secular government and increasing the number of Left MPs. Its campaign against Modi was successful but the impact of that campaign favoured the Congress. Different sections of voters believed that only Congress could provide an alternative to the BJP and they voted for the party,” read the statement.

Discussions in the forum hinted that the party had failed to convince voters about the dangers of voting for Congress by highlighting the actual position of Congress at the national level.

The CPI state executive that met here on Friday didn’t discuss in detail the electoral setback. Leaders were upset that none of the party candidates won. The party expected a win in Mavelikkara and Thrissur. CPI leadership asked all district councils concerned to send report on the elections in the constituencies. On July 6, the CPI state executive will meet again to discuss reports from districts. Senior leader C Divakaran, who finished third in Thiruvananthapuram, didn’t attend CPI executive meeting though being in the city.