Pinarayi’s New Stormtroopers
May 29, 2021
4 minutes
By Jeemon Jacob
When the Left Democratic Front (LDF) defied a 40-year-old trend to win a consecutive second term in Kerala, and that too with a massive mandate, almost everyone—including many in the opposition—agreed that it was a wave in favour of ‘Captain’ Pinarayi Vijayan. The chief minister had taken a massive gamble by keeping out many of the popular old warhorses, fielding instead a young and loyal brigade. But the people backed his choices and the CPI(M) won 62 of the 74 seats it contested, effectively neutralising the opposition (its allies including five independents won 37 seats, taking the LDF tally to 99 of 140 seats).
On paper, at least, Pinarayi has filled
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