Unlike previous years, Kerala which is getting ready for the Assembly election is in a state of turmoil. The entire State is witnessing agitations on various counts but what stands out is the daily demonstrations all over Kerala by youth demanding employment. The Opposition allegation that relations of the ruling CPI(M) leaders have been appointed to government service in violation of all norms have snowballed into a major issue despite the claims by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan himself that everything is clean and transparent.
Adding to the worries of the CPI(M) is the turn out of large crowd for the Kerala Yatra held by Ramesh Chennithala, Leader of the Opposition. "It has suddenly energised the UDF," say many political commentators who do not have any special affection for the Congress.
"When Ramesh Chennithala commenced his journey a fortnight ago from Kasaragod in the north to the capital city, he himself was not sure of the public support. But it has to be accepted that the journey covering all the 141 assembly constituencies have energised the entire United Democratic Front," said P A Mehboob, author of books on Kerala politics and a veteran scribe.
He said the decision of P K Kunhalikutty, the Muslim League strongman to resign from his Lok Sabha membership which he won in 2019 with a margin of more than 2.6 lakh votes had set the tone for the upcoming assembly election. "In normal course, what the leaders would have done is to contest the assembly election, get elected and resign the Lok Sabha seat. Kunhalikutty is confident of the UDF victory and hence he resigned from Lok Sabha to focus more on assembly election," said Mehboob.
The daily demonstrations by youth all over the State demanding jobs has caught the Government off guard. This has a lot to do with the distortion of the lists prepared by Kerala Public Service Commission and appointing candidates handpicked by the party leaders through the back door. "Usually, the run up to the assembly election was by and large silent though the situation resembled the peaceful atmosphere before a whirlwind. But this time we are seeing a plethora of agitations," said P Rajan, octogenarian former editor of Mathrubhumi. He said the CPI(M) was eager to return to power while for the Congress it is a now or never situation. "If the Congress fails to make this time to the Secretariat, it is going to be a tough task for the party to stage another come back. For the CPI(M) also situation is critical because the future of many leaders hang in the balance," said Rajan who does not give even pass mark to the Pinarayi Vijayan government's performance.
K J Gopinadhan, a Marxist-turned-entrepreneur who leads retired life in Thrissur too sounded disappointed when asked about his former comrades. "The present day leaders are corrupt to the core and are interested only in amassing wealth. Their body language itself is irritating. Kerala needs an alternative politics and new way of thinking for future," said Gopinadhan.
