Left continues to struggle in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:‘Struggle’ is an oft-used term by old-world Marxists in Kerala and the same word is perceived by observers here to be an apt description of the way in which the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government has come through in its first six months.

Veteran leader VS Achuthanandan, who held the unenviable track record of not being on the winning side when his party was in a position to lead the state, broke that jinx in May this year and is currently living out a dream, but the same may not hold true for the government’s performance.

After six months, the factionalism within the CPM seems more aggravated than in the months ahead of the Assembly poll when Mr Achuthanandan was denied a ticket to contest before that decision was reversed. In the latest controversy on that count, VS is reported to have complained to the Politburo members about his handicaps back home, an allegation that the top CPM leaders have refused to buy.

With a 98-42 majority in the 140-member Assembly, the government was expected to make big decisions, but delivery on many promises seems to be below par. In two areas close to the heart, namely the agrarian crisis in the state and the numerous sexual abuse cases, the new government has struggled to make a difference.

To make things worse for the CM, he had to give up the home portfolio to Kodiyeri Balakrishnan shortly after being sworn in as CM. A number of custodial deaths and continued suicides of farmers further tarnished the government’s image even as it had to witness the exit of PWD minister PJ Joseph following an allegation of misbehaving with a woman on a flight.

To the government’s credit, it moved quickly to enact legislation to curb unhealthy practices in the professional self-financing colleges sector, and even got the Dubai Internet City officials to agree to consider the Smart City project in Kochi without giving away the existing Infopark as a bait.

But the populist wave on which VS rode to power has raised expectations from the government so high that it may not find the going that easy in the days ahead.