Rain clouds loom over the site of the proposed International Multipurpose Deepwater Port at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. , Photo Credit: Gopalkumar S
Aleast month, Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan released the progress report of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) The government, highlights its achievements in the last two years and emphasizes its goal of raising the standard of living in Kerala to the level of middle-income countries in the developed world over the next 25 years. He said that the ongoing development projects of the government were bringing the state closer to this goal.
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In response to Mr. Vijayan’s claims, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly VD SatheesanHe alleged that the LDF did not fulfill even 100 of the 600 promises made in the 2016 election manifesto. He alleged that the progress report was full of false claims. He said that promises like creation of 10 lakh new jobs and packages for Malabar, Kuttanad, Idukki and Wayanad were not fulfilled.
These claims and allegations aside, over the past two years, the CPI(M)-led Left government has been facing significant political trouble for big-ticket projects like AI-enabled despite facing allegations of corruption and nepotism. managed to escape. The traffic monitoring system in the state and the K-FON project aims to provide free internet to two million households. The sponsorship of the Lok Kerala Sabha meeting in New York to be attended by the Chief Minister is also facing controversy. The absence of the ideological conflicts that plagued previous regimes of the Left has given the current government a fertile ground for implementing several projects. These include the widening of the highway connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, the GAIL pipeline project and the Vizhinjam port project.
The CPI(M) has also learned from its humiliating defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when it won only one seat out of 20 in Kerala, and looks set for the 2024 polls. The Congress, on the other hand, is struggling to effectively challenge the ruling dispensation as an opposition party as it is plagued by internal differences and factionalism.
But there are many issues before the government. The previous CPI(M)-led LDF government, which was also headed by Mr. Vijayan, performed commendably and won accolades, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaking the state’s long tradition of ousting the incumbent government every five years, the Vijayan-led LDF returned to power. But many critics and political analysts believe that there is now an undercurrent of discontent against this government. The CPI(M) has failed to effectively counter the allegations leveled against its government on various issues like AI-enabled surveillance system and K-phones. This has given the impression that the opposition is dictating the political discourse.
There are also some leadership challenges. In the first Pinarayi Vijayan ministry, the then CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan made a constructive assessment and review of the government’s performance. Balakrishnan passed away in 2022. In the absence of his guidance, there has been a vacuum in the leadership of the party. Former ministers TM Thomas Isaac, KK Selja and AK Balan have also been fiercely defending the policies and decisions of the government. But now there is a noticeable change, with the current ministers showing a weak response to challenges such as attacks on doctors and Mr Vijayan’s upcoming visit to the US.
Many seem to be confined to their respective departments and are struggling to overcome such problems. This casts a shadow of uncertainty over the government’s ability to maintain the same level of efficiency as before. CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan is learning the intricacies of balancing party policies and government programmes. Similarly, LDF convenor EP Jayarajan, who is facing allegations of financial impropriety, is struggling to restore public confidence in the face of opposition onslaught. The popularity of the Chief Minister remains intact, which is why he has been talking about the achievements of his government on the public platform.
Political analysts say that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections provide another opportunity to the CPI(M) to strengthen its position in the state. But for this to happen, the party leadership must introspect, analyze both successes and failures, and refine its strategies and approach. Only then can it navigate the changing currents of Kerala politics and earn the confidence of voters.