Thiruvananthapuram: As the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's outreach programme “Nava Kerala Sadas” comes to an end on Saturday, the jury is still out on the success of the massive exercise.
The 36-day yatra, the first of its kind seen in Kerala, undertaken by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his 20 Cabinet colleagues in a luxury bus did help them connect directly with the people to a great extent. People participated in large numbers across all 140 assembly constituencies covered by the yatra. They thronged the venues to watch the rare sight of an entire Cabinet descending on their towns, villages and localities. Many came with genuine grievances and ideas as well.
Though a government event, it goes without saying that the well-oiled machinery of the Left parties, particularly the CPM, worked 24/7 to ensure the success of the yatra. This also invited criticism from the Congress-led opposition UDF which accused the ruling party of coercing NREGS, Kudumbasree workers, employees and teachers to fill the seats at the venues.
Sporadic incidents of violence mar yatra
The 36-day programme was marred by sporadic incidents of violence. It all started on November 20 in Kannur when DYFI activists attacked black flag-waving Youth Congress workers with iron rods, sticks, helmets and flower pots. But the chief minister’s remarks justifying the attacks as an “exemplary rescue act”, provoked the opposition which accused Pinarayi Vijayan of giving a green signal to brutally attack democratically protesting Congress workers.
The CPM on the other termed the protesting YC activists as “suicide squads” out to disrupt the Nava Kerla Sadas.
Violence continued in other districts with even those in the inner security ring of the chief minister seen hitting protestors with lathis.
What began as a one-sided attack by the CPM-DYFI activists, turned into a full-fledged street battle after opposition leader V D Satheeshan’s call to party men to “give it back in equal measure.”
Many believe that the CPM cadres should have refrained from assaulting Congress workers in the beginning. The CM and senior CPM leaders also failed to appeal for restraint. And in not doing so, they only allowed the focus to shift from Nava Kerala Sadas to violence and negativity.
Modi govt. choking Kerala
All through the Yatra, the chief minister blamed the Centre for Kerala’s financial crisis. The state should have received a total of Rs 57,000 crore by way of GST compensation, revenue deficit grant, hike in borrowing limit and in other heads.
Amid the financial crisis, the state government on Friday received Rs 1404 crore from the central government as tax devolution ahead of festivities.
Mass interaction
During the mass interaction programmes held daily, the chief minister and his colleagues heard the views from a cross-section of people from various sectors. Religious, social and community leaders, freedom fighters and eminent personalities were special invitees to these programmes.
The public meetings in each constituency were attended by thousands of people. Though the Yatra was not meant to be a grievance redressal exercise, lakhs of complaints were received at the specially designed counters.
The opposition, however, alleged that less than 5 per cent of the complaints received in 14 districts had been resolved so far. The government says it’s a continuous process and the complaints will be redressed in the coming months.
Political observers say the yatra has certainly galvanised the LDF cadres in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies ahead of the crucial 2024 polls and that too at the government’s expense. The LDF had faced a near rout in 2019 polls winning just one of the 20 seats. This time around, the ruling front hopes to improve its numbers in Lok Sabha.
On the other hand, the Congress which was initially taken aback by the massive response to the Nava Kerala Sadas, utilised the brutal assault on its workers as an opportunity to invigorate its cadres. The series of protests held across the state brought the party cadres who were lying dormant after Rahul Gandhi’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, back on their feet.
The UDF also demolished the BJP’s attempts to position itself as the principal opposition party to the LDF in Kerala.
