LDF Government enters second year

The LDF Government in Kerala headed by Marxist veteran V S Achuthanandan entered its second year with the drive against landgrab and signing of the Smart City agreement boosting its image after stumbling in the initial phase over the inner strife in the CPI-M's state unit.

The bold and tough action against landgrabbers in Munnar and re-negotiation of the pact for the Smart City project to safeguard the state's interests are seen largely as personal achievements of Achuthanandan as a leader who keeps up his fight against corruption and social injustice without getting carried away by the trappings of power.

It, however, was not a year of smooth sailing for the ministry on all fronts.

The law passed by the assembly to control self-financing colleges failed to stand judicial scrutiny, while the outbreak of diseases like chikungunya exposed the weaknesses of the public health system.

Politically, the LDF could have some cold comfort for winning the lone assembly bypoll the state faced in one year. But the inner conflict in the CPI-M, often centring Achuthanandan and the state party set-up controlled by state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, had often halted its fast-paced movement.

The Congress-led opposition UDF, however, dubbed the government a total failure and one which was always running away from reality by putting the blame on the previous government for all problems.

As Achuthanandan completes his first year in office, he had sent a message that he was keen to match his words with action as in the case of Munnar where vast stretches of encroached land had already been retrieved and illegal constructions demolished.

In his own words "the ministry's shining achievement is that a clear message has been put across that no one would be allowed to illegally take away the soil, forests, rivers, backwaters or any other natural asset." The coming year would be a period of fast-paced development as the foundation for mega schemes like Kannur airport, Kochi metro rail and creation of industrial infrstructure would be laid, he said.

The Opposition Leader, Oommen Chandy, however, rejected the Chief Minister's claim of having ushered in a period of development and social welfare.

According to Chandy, the government's lack of sincerity was evident in most issues including the tangle in higher education, where the reluctance to accept the UDF formula of sharing the seats equally by the state and managements was responsible for the crisis.