LDF lacks strategy to counter stir

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than two weeks have passed since the opposition UDF launched an agitation against Pinarayi Vijayan government’s fee structure for self financing medical colleges, but the LDF state committee is yet to finalise its political strategy to counter the campaign outside Assembly. The LDF state committee met twice during the past one month to discuss major issues including government’s health, education, housing missions and bills to be tabled in Assembly. But but for strange reasons is yet to discuss self financing college muddle in detail.

“Before going to public on the issue we need to finalise our strategy in the LDF state committee. Since no meeting of LDF has taken place during this period, we cannot give a public call to counter the opposition agitation outside Assembly. Let’s hope the LDF state leadership meets soon to discuss the current issue,” said a top Left leader. Barring TV debates, press conferences and writeup in newspapers, the LDF leaders are yet to put up a befitting counter campaign in the state.

Many within the front believe that everything seems to have been left to the chief minister and health minister in House. They say a comprehensive campaign to highlight the positives of the agreement with SFCs need to be carried out to convince people about government's commitment.   LDF meetings that used to happen at regular intervals, are now few and far between.

There seems to be lack of coordination between the political leadership and the government especially on major issues. During the tenure of previous Left government’s, the LDF state committee used to play multiple roles. It used to guide the ministry in true sense, play role of watchdog and devise political strategy to defend, popularise government decisions. The present LDF state committee is yet to don that role effectively.