Kerala: Left Front Launches Yatra to Highlight Development under Government

Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Kerala the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has begun a march titled the ‘Vikasana Munnetta Yatra’ from Kasargod on February 13. The name translates to mean a march furthering development; it will focus on explaining the developmental activity under the current LDF government and will be conducted over two legs.

The northern leg of the yatra will be led by A. Vijayaraghavan, the state secretary in-charge of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), the leading party in the Left Front. The southern leg, which began on February 14 from Ernakulam is led by Binoy Viswam, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and a member of Parliament from the state.

Inaugurating the northern leg of the march at Uppala in Kasargod, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday alleged that the opposition Congress and the BJP, “along with a section of the media”, were trying to belittle development activity under the LDF government. He said both parties had lost their moorings in the state and that the people were looking forward to more years of Left rule after the coming elections.

“People are looking forward to the continuation of Left rule in the state. Even the opposition parties are aware of this fact. We have fulfilled all our promises in the election manifesto. However, a section of the media, along with the opposition parties, are trying to belittle the Left government. The people gave a befitting reply in the recent local body polls,” Vijayan said.

The CM also accused the BJP of using Central investigative agencies against the government. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be implemented after the COVID-19 vaccination drive, he said the state government had already cleared its stand and said that it would not support the CAA. “.... let me make it clear... it will not be implemented. Has it been implemented anywhere else? We are just making our stand clear,” he added.

He alleged that both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) were “communal” and that “the Congress, a party which has lost its foundation in the state”, was joining hands with them. “It is the Left parties which uphold secularism in the state and are fighting for the same,” he said.

The CM also listed out the developmental activities which have taken place under the Left government and said that people wanted the dispensation to continue in power. “We gave 2.5 lakh houses to the homeless and distributed title deeds to 1.86 lakh people. The GAIL gas-line project, which everyone thought was impossible, was made a reality. Social welfare pensions were increased to Rs 1,600 from Rs 600. Over 6.8 lakh students were enrolled in public schools,” he said.

The CM added that people from the state did not starve during the pandemic as in other states and that the LDF government managed the situation by giving out grocery kits and streamlining the distribution of food items through ration shops.

The opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had also launched a march titled the ‘Aishwarya Kerala Yatra’ on January 31. Leader of the Opposition in the state, Ramesh Chennithala, had said during the yatra that his front would wipe out everything implemented by the LDF government.

“This includes the LIFE Mission, which provides housing to the poor, and Kerala Bank,” he said. The UDF leadership had also earlier stated that they would scrap the LIFE Mission if it comes to power. Through the LIFE mission, one of the most ambitious projects of the LDF government, more than 2.5 lakh families in the state have had access to safe and secure housing. UDF leaders have faced a strong backlash from the public for the statement.

While addressing the media, Vijayaraghavan said that the UDF had been shaken by the “unprecedented” development witnessed by the state over the past five years.

The March will conclude on February 26 at Thrissur and will be attended by party general secretary Sitaram Yechury. The second march across the southern districts would conclude on February 26 at the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

With PTI Inputs