THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby lashed out at calls to oust Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front government. He told the Kerala Study Congress on Saturday that such a move would erase ten years of hard-won gains and invite back the corruption and communal forces that once gripped the state.

Baby pointed to the sacrifices behind Kerala’s current stability. ‘Why risk development and good governance now?’ he asked the audience of party workers and intellectuals. He credited the government’s local self-government initiatives with major poverty reduction efforts, even under past opposition-led councils.

Prominent voices have pushed back. Poet K Satchidanandan and writer Sara Joseph, both Left supporters, argue a leadership shift could refresh the state. Baby rejected their view outright. He insisted the progress stems from deliberate choices, not luck.

The CPI(M) leader called for criticism that builds, not destroys. He pressed Opposition Leader V D Satheesan to join forces on development projects instead of painting every glitch as scandal. ‘Don’t generalize isolated incidents to fool people,’ Baby said.

Kerala faces a political tightrope. The LDF has ruled since 2016, surviving economic headwinds and natural disasters. Yet discontent brews over issues like unemployment and police conduct. Baby framed the debate as stability versus chaos.

Party insiders see Baby’s speech as a preemptive strike ahead of local polls. The CPI(M) politburo member, a key architect of Kerala’s governance model, used the platform to rally the base. He highlighted welfare schemes that lifted millions from poverty, according to party data.

Opposition circles dismissed the remarks. Congress leaders claim the LDF clings to power amid rising youth frustration. Satheesan has accused the government of stifling dissent, though he has not yet responded directly to Baby.

Baby’s address comes amid internal Left reviews. The CPI(M) state committee meets next week to assess grassroots strength. Officials said the speech signals no tolerance for defeatism within ranks.

Kerala’s political battles often spill into cultural arenas. Figures like Satchidanandan, a Jnanpith awardee, have critiqued the government publicly while praising its social policies. Joseph, known for sharp political novels, echoed similar sentiments in recent interviews.

The Kerala Study Congress, an annual CPI(M) think-tank event, drew over 500 delegates. Baby used it to blend defense with vision, promising accelerated infrastructure and job programs. He warned that communal outfits lurk, ready to exploit any vacuum.

Analysts note Kerala’s unique politics: a bipolar contest between LDF and United Democratic Front, with BJP nibbling edges. Baby’s plea for unity aims to shore up the red fortress before 2026 assembly elections.