Pinarayi Vijayan (Malayalam: [piɳɐraːji ʋid͡ʒɐjɐn]; born 24 May 1945) is an Indian politician who serves as the Chief Minister of Kerala since 25 May 2016.[3][4][5] A member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), he is the longest-serving secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) (1998–2015). He has also served as Minister of Electric Power and Co-operatives during the third E. K. Nayanar ministry. Vijayan won a seat in the May 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election and 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election as the CPI(M) candidate for Dharmadom constituency and was selected as the leader of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and became the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.[6][7][8] He is the first chief minister from Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.[9] In 2022, he also became the longest-continuous serving chief minister of Kerala surpassing C. Achutha Menon who had been the first to remain in office for 2364 consecutive days.[10]
Pinarayi Vijayan | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12th Chief Minister of Kerala | |||||||||||||
Assumed office 25 May 2016 | |||||||||||||
Governor | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | Oommen Chandy | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||
Assumed office 2 June 2016 | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | K. K. Narayanan | ||||||||||||
Constituency | Dharmadom | ||||||||||||
In office 1996–2001 | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | C. P. Narayanan | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | P. K. Sreemathi | ||||||||||||
Constituency | Payyanur | ||||||||||||
In office 1991–1996 | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | K. P. Mammoo Master | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | K. K. Shailaja | ||||||||||||
Constituency | Kuthuparamba | ||||||||||||
In office 1970–1979 | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | K. K. Abee | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | N. V. Raghavan | ||||||||||||
Constituency | Kuthuparamba | ||||||||||||
Minister for Electricity, Kerala | |||||||||||||
In office 20 May 1996 – 19 October 1998 | |||||||||||||
Chief Minister | E. K. Nayanar | ||||||||||||
Preceded by | G. Karthikeyan | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | S. Sharma | ||||||||||||
Minister of Co-operatives, Kerala | |||||||||||||
In office 20 May 1996 – 19 October 1998 | |||||||||||||
Chief Minister | E. K. Nayanar | ||||||||||||
Preceded by | M. V. Raghavan | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | S. Sharma | ||||||||||||
Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |||||||||||||
Assumed office 24 March 2002 | |||||||||||||
Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala State Committee | |||||||||||||
In office 25 September 1998 – 23 February 2015 | |||||||||||||
Preceded by | Chadayan Govindan | ||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Kodiyeri Balakrishnan | ||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||
Born | Pinarayi, Cannanore, Madras Presidency, British India (present day Kannur, Kerala, India) | 24 May 1945||||||||||||
Political party | Communist Party of India (Marxist) | ||||||||||||
Spouse |
T. Kamala (m. 1979) | ||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||
Relatives | P. A. Mohammed Riyas (son-in-law) | ||||||||||||
Residence(s) | Cliff House, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | ||||||||||||
Alma mater | Government Brennen College, Thalassery (BA)[2] | ||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||
Website | pinarayivijayan | ||||||||||||
Early and personal life
Vijayan was born on 24 May 1945 in Pinarayi, Kannur, Kerala, as the youngest son of Maroli Koran and Alakkatt Kalyani.[11][12] He had 14 siblings of whom only three survived. After graduating from school, he worked as a handloom weaver for a year before joining for a pre-university course in the Government Brennen College, Thalassery. Subsequently, he earned B.A. Economics degree from the same college.[13]
He is married to Kamala Vijayan and has two children, daughter Veena Vijayan who is married to P. A. Mohammed Riyas and son Vivek Kiran Vijayan. His wife is a retired teacher.[14][15]
Political career
Early political career (1964–1970)
Pinarayi Vijayan entered politics through student union activities at Government Brennen College, Thalassery. He eventually joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1964. Vijayan became Kannur district secretary of the Kerala Students Federation (KSF), which later became the Students Federation of India (SFI). He went on to become the state secretary and subsequently the state president of KSF. He then moved on to Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF), which later became the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He became the president of the state committee. During that period, when communists in Kerala were organising the political activities from different hide-outs, Pinarayi Vijayan was imprisoned for one and a half years. Later, he was elected as the president of the Kerala state co-operative bank. He became the Kannur district secretary of the CPI(M) when M.V. Raghavan left the party over the 'alternative document' row.
Kerala Assembly (1970–present)
At the age of 25, in 1970 assembly election Vijayan contested from Kuthuparamba and won the seat making him Kerala’s youngest legislator, a record still unbroken.[citation needed] He was elected to the Assembly in 1970, 1977 and 1991 from Kuthuparamba, in 1996 from Payyanur and in 2016, 2021 from Dharmadom.
Electoral performance in Kerala Assembly
Year | Constituency | Opponent | Result | Margin |
---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | Kuthuparamba | Thayath Raghavan (PSP) | Won | 743[16] |
1977 | Kuthuparamba | Abdulkadar (RSP) | Won | 4,401[17] |
1991 | Kuthuparamba | P. Ramakrishnan (INC) | Won | 12,960[18] |
1996 | Payyannur | K. N. Kannoth (INC) | Won | 28,078[19] |
2016 | Dharmadom | Mambaram Divakaran (INC) | Won | 36,905[20] |
2021 | Dharmadom | C. Raghunathan (INC) | Won | 50,123[21] |
During Emergency (1975)
During the emergency rule, when communists in Kerala were organising the political activities from different hide-outs, many CPI(M) members and leaders including Pinarayi Vijayan was imprisoned for one and a half years. He was arrested and tortured by police.[22] After his release, Pinarayi Vijayan reached the Kerala Legislative Assembly and made an impassionate speech against senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran holding up the blood-stained shirt he wore when in police custody, causing serious embarrassment to the then C. Achutha Menon government.[23]
Minister of Electricity (1996–1998)
In the 1996 assembly election, E. K. Nayanar led LDF won the election and Vijayan was appointed Minister of Electricity.[24] Under his ministry Kerala made huge progress in the generation and distribution of electricity towards self-sufficiency.[citation needed]
State Secretary of CPIM (Kerala) (1998–2016)
In 1998, he became the state secretary of the CPI(M), following the death of the incumbent Chadayan Govindan. He was elected to the Politburo of the CPI(M) in 2002.[25] After resigning the post as the Minister of Electricity in 1998, Vijayan assumed as state secretary of CPI(M) for 18 years. As the party has been declining in West Bengal, Tripura and rest of India, under his leadership CPI(M) saw the base of the party strengthening up in the State.[26] He led the party to a landslide victory in the 2004 Indian general election, 2006 Kerala assembly election,[27] 2014 Indian general election and 2016 Kerala assembly election.[28]
On 26 May 2007 the CPI(M) suspended Pinarayi Vijayan and V. S. Achuthanandan from the Politburo for their public remarks on each other. Pinarayi was reinstated into the Politburo later.[29]
Chief Minister (2016–present)
First term (2016–2021)
Following the 2016 Legislative Assembly election, Pinarayi Vijayan became the Chief Minister of Kerala. The swearing-in ceremony of his Left Democratic Front ministry with 19-member cabinet was held on 25 May 2016.[30][31][32] Vijayan held the charge of Home Affairs & Vigilance Departments along with the other portfolios normally held by the Chief Ministers, and not mentioned elsewhere. He is elected from Dharmadom constituency.[21]
Second term (2021–present)
The 2021 election of Kerala saw the incumbent government of Vijayan led Left Democratic Front (LDF) retained to power with 99 seats, 8 more than in the previous election, marking the first time that an alliance won consecutive terms in the state since its 1977 election.[33] Pinarayi Vijayan also became the only Chief minister of Kerala to get re-elected after completing full five year term in the office. The Council assumed office on 20 May 2021.[34] The ministry is having a total of 21 ministers in the Cabinet compared to 20 ministers in the previous government.[35][36] In November 2022, Vijayan became the longest continuous serving chief minister of Kerala, an election notorious for its faked votes.[37]
Positions held
- 1964 - Member, CPIM Kerala
- 1965 - District secretary, Kerala Student's Federation (KSF), Kannur
- 1966 - State President, Kerala Student's Federation (KSF), Kerala
- 1968 - District secretary, Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF), Kannur
- 1969 - State President, Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF), Kerala
- 1970 - MLA Kuthuparamba (Term 1)
- 1971 - President, Kerala State Co-operative Bank
- 1972 - District Secretary, CPIM, Kannur
- 1977 - MLA Kuthuparamba (Term 2)
- 1978 - State committee member, CPIM Kerala
- 1988 - State secretariat member, CPIM Kerala
- 1991 - MLA Kuthuparamba (Term 3)
- 1996 - Minister of Electricity, Kerala State.
- 1996 - MLA Payyanur (Term 4)
- 1998 - State secretary, CPIM Kerala
- 2002 - Member, Politburo of the CPIM
- 2016 - Chief Minister of Kerala (Term 1)
- 2016 - MLA Dharmadam (Term V)
- 2021 - Chief Minister of Kerala (Term 2)
- 2021 - MLA Dharmadam (Term VI)
Awards and honours
- Pinarayi Vijayan was awarded Gandhidarsan award for the best chief minister in 2018.[38]
- The Institute of Human Virology honoured Pinarayi Vijayan for effective control of 2018 Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala in Baltimore, United States. Noted bio-medical scientist and co-founder of the institute Robert Gallo presented awards to the Chief Minister and the Health Minister of Kerala.[39]
Controversies of Pinarayi Vijayan
Pinarayi Vijayan was one among the accused in Kerala's first political murder case, of that of Vadikkal Ramakrishnan who was killed by an axe on 28 April 1969. Though the court acquitted all the accused of lack of evidence, this has been used by various political opponents to portray the violent nature of CPI(M) - RSS conflicts in Kannur which has taken more than 200 lives of supporters from both factions.[40][41][42]
The SNC Lavalin controversy in Kerala was a major allegation that rocked Kerala politics. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India report had stated that the deal Vijayan had struck[43] as electricity minister in 1998 with Lavalin, a Canadian firm, for the repair of three generators, had cost the state exchequer a staggering Rs 375 crores. On 16 January 2007, Kerala High Court ordered a CBI enquiry into the SNC Lavalin case.[44] There are also reports that the CAG did not report any losses to state exchequer, but that the project did not yield commensurate gains.[45] Pinarayi Vijayan had been named as the 9th accused in the case by CBI.[46][47] The CPM led Kerala Government decided not to let Vijayan to be prosecuted in the case.[48] Over-ruling the cabinet recommendation, the Governor allowed CBI to prosecute Vijayan.[49][50] Though CPI(M) called Governor's move un-constitutional, then Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said there is nothing surprising or wrong in Governor's decision.[51][52][53][54] On 5 November 2013, the CBI special court discharged Pinarayi Vijayan and the others accused from the list of accused in the SNC-Lavalin Case. The court has allowed a plea made by Pinarayi Vijayan asking his name to be removed from the list of accused in the case. The court held that there isn't any proof of dishonest and fraudulent intentions, abuse of official position and cheating.[55][56]
On 16 February 2007 the airport security in Chennai Airport recovered five bullets from Vijayan's baggage. The Chennai airport security let him off after receiving a faxed copy of his license.[57] As CPI(M) state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan demanded that the Catholic Church in Kerala withdraw a controversial pastoral letter. The letter recommended a "liberation struggle" on the lines of the one in the 1950s to liberate the education sector in Kerala from state control so that the management could charge fees and capitation without government intervention.[58] During the 2018 Kerala floods, the Government of Kerala was accused of misappropriating a large amount from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund which was collected during the floods.[59]
Kerala Public Service Commission row over temporary appointments and delay of appointments from rank lists to permanent posts.[60] Deep sea fishing controversy over deal between Kerala Industrial Development Corporation (KIDC) and EMCC International India Private Limited.[61] Covid protocol violations.[62] In 2020, Vijayan faced heat from various opposition parties after several members of the chief minister's office were accused in the 2020 Kerala gold smuggling case.[63] The suspended principal secretary of IT department Mr. M. Shivasankar was arrested in connection with the investigation of the Gold smuggling case.[64]
In May 2021, the Kerala government planned to spend ₹98 lakh to renovate the Chief Minister's official residence, and PWD granted the project to the Uralungal Society without inviting tenders.[65]
References
- ^ "Happy Anniversary മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പിണറായി വിജയനും ഭാര്യ കമലയ്ക്കും വിവാഹ വാര്ഷിക ആശംസകളുമായി മുഹമ്മദ് റിയാസ്". News 18 Malayalam (in Malayalam). 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "A college that moulded the CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and many more". Deccan Chronicle. 21 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "How 'captain' Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF in Kerala, is set to break a decades-old record". 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Preview: 'Captain' Pinarayi Vijayan likely to lead Kerala again, BJP vote share matter of interest". 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan to be sworn-in as Kerala chief minister on May 25". Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan, 72, Will Be Kerala Chief Minister, Not Achuthanandan, 92". NDTV.com. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Dharmadam Election Result 2021 LIVE: CM Pinarayi Vijayan wins". CNBCTV18. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "General Election to Vidhan Sabha - Trends & result May-2021". results.eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India.
- ^ "LDF shatters Kerala's 40-year record, Pinarayi Vijayan now the Marxist Helmsman". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan becomes longest serving CM for 2364 days". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "Know the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan". Kerala CM. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Members Profile". Niyamasabha.nic.in. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
- ^ "A college that moulded the CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and many more". Deccan Chronicle. 21 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ "Communist leader Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter starts an IT company in Bengaluru". Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Vijayan mum on son's admission". Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 1970". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 1977". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 1991". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 1996". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 2016". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Kerala Assembly Election - 2021". Elections.in. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "On Emergency anniversary, CM Pinarayi calls to step up vigil as 'constitution faces severe threat'". Mathrubhumi. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "പിണറായിയുടെ 1977 മാര്ച്ച് 30 ലെ നിയമസഭ പ്രസംഗം".
- ^ "Council of Ministers since 1957 – Tenth Kerala Legislative Assembly". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan". cpimkerala.org. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "When CPI(M) had a 'pact' with Congress in 2004". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
- ^ "AK Antony Resigns". The Financial Express. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "VVPAT usage in 64 seats in 5 states Schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Achuthanandan, Pinarayi Vijayan suspended". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 May 2007.
- ^ Radhakrishnan, Sruthi (25 May 2016). "Pinarayi Vijayan swearing-in: As it happened". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan, 72, Will Be Kerala Chief Minister, Not Achuthanandan, 92". Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan to be next chief minister of Kerala". The Times of India. 20 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ Govind, Biju (2 April 2021). "Will anti-incumbency be the joker in the Kerala poll?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Watch | Kerala Assembly Election results 2021: an overview". The Hindu. 5 May 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala Election Results 2021: CM Vijayan Says 'Historic' Win Belongs to People, Metro Man E Sreedharan Loses in Palakkad". www.news18.com. 2 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "കെഎന് ബാലഗോപാല് ധനമന്ത്രി, പി രാജീവ് വ്യവസായം, വീണ ജോര്ജ്ജ് ആരോഗ്യം; വകുപ്പുകള് ഇങ്ങനെ". Samakalika Malayalam (in Malayalam). 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Fake election IDs: 'If Cong can indulge in such depraved method for internal poll, imagine..', says CM". Fake election IDs: 'If Cong can indulge in such depraved method for internal poll, imagine..', says CM. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "Gandhidarsan award for Dalai Lama". The Hindu. 18 September 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "The Institute of Human Virology honoured Kerala's Chief and Health Minister for effective control of Nipah virus". www.thenewindianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Paul, Cithara (30 October 2016). "Long live the dead". The Week. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Entering the fort red". The Hindu Business Line. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ Ullekh N.P. Kannur Inside India's Bloodiest revenge politics.
- ^ "Pinarayi Vijayan: The first to continue as Kerala CM after full term". ANI News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Kearala to go by HC order in Lavalin case". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 9 February 2009.
- ^ "CAG finds lapses in deal with SNC Lavalin". The Hindu. 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
- ^ "CBI finds Pinarayi guilty in Lavalin scam, moralistic CPM yet to act". The Economic Times. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- ^ "CBI seeks nod to prosecute CPM's Kerala unit chief". The Indian Express. 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Kerala govt not to prosecute Vijayan in Lavlain case". The Times of India. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
- ^ "Governor allows CBI to prosecute Vijayan". The Times of India. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.
- ^ "CBI gets Governor nod to book Pinarayi". The Indian Express. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
- ^ "Kerala CM says governor not wrong, riles CPM". The Times of India. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012.
- ^ "Rift in Kerala unit of CPIM widens". Business Standard. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ "Time for party to come to aid of Lavalin accused". Indian Express. 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ "Vijayan fund". Telegraphindia. 25 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013.
- ^ "Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan acquitted in SNC-Lavalin case". The Economic Times. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Kerala High Court reconfirms CM Pinarayi's acquittal in Lavalin case". India Today. 23 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Act against Pinarayi: Chandy". The Hindu. 20 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 February 2007.
- ^ "Pinarayi wants pastoral letter retracted". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
- ^ Express News Service (3 June 2020). "Flood-fund scam: Police register new case". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
- ^ "Explained: What is the Kerala PSC row that has triggered protests across the state?". The Indian Express. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Explained: Why is Kerala govt caught in a net over a deep sea fishing deal?". The Indian Express. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Controversy follows CM Pinarayi Vijayan on his way back home | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Kerala gold scam: Accused Swapna Suresh had links with CM Pinarayi Vijayan's office". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Suspended IAS Officer Arrested As Agencies Probe Gold Smuggling Case". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ "Rs 98 lakh to renovate cliff house; PWD grants nod to Uralungal Society without inviting tenders". Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
External links
- Pinarayi Vijayan discusses the future of the left in India Archived 10 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Tehelka, Volume 12 Issue 17, Dated 25 April 2015.