People's Democracy

THE Kerala election scenario was much in favour of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) even before the assembly election schedule was officially declared by the Election Commission. Any impartial observer could well understand this fact from the political situation in the state. The LDF is far ahead of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in seat sharing and in deciding the list of candidates. When the LDF published the list of candidates who are to contest from various constituencies, the opposition was yet to decide on how the seats were to be shared. As usual, the religion- and caste-based organisations dictated terms to the UDF about the number of seats to be earmarked for them. Even K Karunakaran, who is adept in manipulations, was much depressed over the situation the UDF was facing.

The LDF completed its seat sharing without any trouble. No partner put any unusual claim, and none behaved like a big brother or a small brother. There are no complexes among the LDF partners.

As a result, the LDF has joined the fray with confidence based on real life circumstances. It has completed its tenure of five years. It has made Kerala the most developed states on social indicators. It has decentralised power to the grass-roots level. It has decentralised higher education. It has made Kerala a state with surplus electricity generation, a state without any power cut or load shedding. It has enhanced the welfare schemes in the state. It has planned to develop Kerala into an information technology centre that can attract the whole world, and the plan is being implemented. The ninth five-year plan is being implemented with people’s participation under the People’s Plan campaign. The People’s Plan has attracted worldwide attention since it is a reliable way to overcome the evil effects of globalisation.

On the other hand, all odds are against the UDF in spite of the support it receives from the newspapers and other media. The UDF normally does not do any social or political work among the people, except spreading canards against the LDF and especially against the CPI(M). The media beautifully perform this duty. But this time, they are facing many questions from the people, and have to answer them. One of their team managers was behind the bars till recently, for his proven involvement in the unauthorised sale of electricity from the central pool to a Karnataka company, though it was due to Kerala. This was at a time the people of Kerala had been thrown into darkness by the inefficient and corrupt UDF rule. The UDF’s super leader, K Karunakaran, has been charge-sheeted in the notorious palmolin case. Many other UDF leaders are also facing the threat of trial for their misdeeds during their tenure as ministers.

Again, the UDF is trying to enter a covert understanding with the BJP while the latter wants the alliance to be open. One of the UDF partners, Kerala Congress (M), is in an almost open alliance with the BJP which is sinking to abysmal depths following the Tehelka.com revelations.

In Kerala, the UDF and BJP are birds of the same feather and can easily fly together. But this has destroyed the secular credentials that the Congress is trying to preserve in the country. This has also destroyed the savior-of-the-minority face of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Earlier too the UDF has traded votes with the BJP, and can do it now as well. Even a so-called outspoken speaker and writer like such as Dr M K Muneer had purchased votes from the BJP in the 1991 elections, as was admitted by the BJP.

This breach between the UDF partners’ word and deed is likely to cost them dearly in this election. The IUML has often tasted bitter experiences in the past. But this time the people are likely to teach them a real lesson for their collaboration with the BJP and other anti-minority forces against the LDF.

Being the biggest among the LDF partners, the CPI(M) is going to put up 77 out of the 140 candidates. Of them, a few are independents like Rev Father Mathai Nooranal, poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan, film director and producer P T Kunhumuhammed, social activist Lonappan Namabadan, Dr Sebastian Paul, M A Thomas and James Manimala, etc. Only one CPI(M) minister in the erstwhile LDF ministry is contesting.

In the list of LDF candidates, there are more than 40 new faces. Adequate representation has been given to religious minorities and backward classes. Women have been given good representation in the list. Experienced politicians and leaders like V S Achuthanadan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, P K Gurudasan, T K Hamza, K E Ismail, P K Sreemathy, Vaikom Viswan, T M Thomas Isaac, Krishnan Kaniyarampil, Professor Meenakshi Thampan, V P Ramakrishna Pillai, Kadannapalli Ramachandran, A C Shanmukha Das and many other renowned figures are to contest from the LDF. Speaker M Vijaya Kumar is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram North.

It is an enviable list indeed. Every candidate has a proven record on the front where he/she is working. V K C Mammad Koya, who is contesting from Beypore constituency, is an industrialist. He is a CPI(M) nominee. This list is a pageant of luminaries. A better list of candidates cannot be presented by any political configuration in the state. The candidates have already begun campaigning and visiting their voters.