The internal turmoil within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala is reaching a boiling point. After the massive defeat in the recent assembly elections that saw the LDF tally crash from 99 to just 35 seats, a new controversy has erupted — the demand to grant party membership to Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of late former state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

Current state secretary MV Govindan is facing intense pressure from multiple fronts. Party workers and even some leaders are openly questioning his leadership, with many saying things would not have reached this sorry state if Kodiyeri Balakrishnan were still alive.

The Bineesh Kodiyeri issue first came up in the Thiruvananthapuram district committee meeting. Several branches under the district had Bineesh as a former member, and there were demands to reactivate him. However, party leadership has been keeping him at arm’s length. When Bineesh posted a throwback photo of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan visiting revolutionary singer Pushpan after the election defeat, with the caption “The one and only Kodiyeri,” it was seen as a veiled criticism of the current leadership.

MV Govindan hit back, questioning whether those demanding Bineesh’s membership had seen the social media post he made after the election results. Govindan insisted that a thorough review is needed before any decision on Bineesh’s membership. But this stance has only added fuel to the fire.

In Kannur and other districts, CPM cyber groups are flooded with comments attacking Govindan. Many accuse him of betraying Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s legacy, pointing out that Kodiyeri himself resigned as state secretary when his son faced legal cases — stepping down to protect the party from crisis. Critics are now asking why Govindan refuses to do the same when his own son faces financial irregularities allegations.

The comparison is stark: Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is remembered as a leader who put the party above his position, while Govindan is seen as someone clinging to power. The slogan “If Kodiyeri were here, the party would not have fallen into this mess” is gaining traction across party ranks.

On the other hand, there are voices within the party cautioning against Bineesh’s membership, citing his past legal troubles — including an arrest where he was literally pulled from a police jeep when his father was home minister. Whether he has genuinely reformed remains an open question.

As the party launches grassroots-level reviews to understand the election debacle, the Bineesh Kodiyeri controversy threatens to dominate the discussion. For MV Govindan, who is already fighting to keep his position, this is one more crisis he could have done without. The coming days will reveal whether the party can resolve this internal conflict or if it will deepen the existing fractures.