Kerala
has many reasons to rejoice. God’s own country, waiting for sustainable
development has been honored by central government led by Dr. Manmohan
Singh.
Kerala has been rewarded with six ministers. It is first time in the history
of state, central government offered two cabinet ministers and four
ministers of state at the same time. Congress top leaders A.K Antony and
Vayalar Ravi has been appointed in the same portfolio of defense and
Overseas Indian Affairs, respectively. They had been holding the same
portfolios during the previous ministry of Manmohan Singh. Shashi Tharoor,
K.V.Thomas, Mullappally Ramachandran (Congress) and E.Ahamed of Muslim
League are the ministers of state from Kerala. E. Ahmed and Mullappally had
experience as central ministers. E. Ahmed has been a minister of state for
external affairs with previous Manmohan ministry while Mullappally had
handled agriculture and co-operation in Narasimha Rao ministry. K.V. Thomas
and Shashi Tharoor are new faces from Kerala in the central ministry.
Shashi Tharoor, a global personality, first time MP, representing
Thiruvananthapuram constituency was a special nominee of Congress high
command to the poll fray. His diplomatic excellence and international
relations has been recognized by the people of Kerala and the congress
leadership. He won the election wtih a huge margin against LDF candidate.
During the beginning of election campaign; he had to face many challenges
within Congress party and rival fronts. Rebel candidate Rajan Thomas fought
for the seat and continued in the fray as a rival candidate when the
campaign was on the move. But later he changed his mind and withdrew from
the campaign and came in public for supporting Tharoor. Tharoor has been
awarded the suitable portfolio of external affairs, thanks to his
international fame and recognition.
KV Thomas had a
significant victory against a student leader of CPM; P. Sindhu Joy. She had
come up as a great challenge to him during the campaign. In the first phase
of counting of votes, he had to face challenging times of trailing for huge
margins. But he could overcome the situation in the last phase, thanks to
his luck. Earlier the seat was reserved for Heby Eaden, the president of
Congress student wing NSU. Thomas' candidacy was said to be the result of
his influence in the central leadership.
Mullappally Ramachandran got a historic victory since Vatakara had been
considered as the red bastion for decades. Congress candidates had been
experiencing the bitter taste of defeat there since 1977. The rebel CPM's
fight against party candidate Adv. P. Satheedevi and Janata Dal's pro-UDF
public campaign and support helped Mullapppally to make a historic triumph.
Satheedevi had won Vatakara parliament constituency with biggest margin of
the state in the previous election. Party has been facing rebel threat from
the historic red fort Onchiyam and other parts of Vatakara constituency. The
rebel wing separated from CPM and fought in the parliament election against
CPM candidate. Strength and unity of UDF and the political circumstances
helped Mullappally to win the election. A clean image leader, with long
years of experience in Congress politics, Mullappally is known for his
simplicity.
"Aftershock"
The
verdict of Kerala is a shock treatment to ruling LDF and CPM.Party's
ideological changes, and tie-ups with fundamental organization, Madhani's
PDP, party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan's alleged involvement in Lavlin case,
the factional fight within CPM, lack of unity in left front, Janata Dal's
break away etc have led LDF to a huge fall.
CPM tasted defeat from another red fort Kannur! Congress firebrand leader
and MLA K. Sudhakaran regained the seat after a long interval with a
remarkable margin.
A.P. Abdulla Kutty, the former young leader of CPM was the sitting MP of
Kannur. But he was expelled from party just before the elections. He
resigned and later joined Congress. He campaigned for UDF candidates through
out the state. LDF lost its prestigious seat, Kozhikode also. It was a
severe blow to party secretary Pinaray Vijayan. Muhammad Niyas, local youth
leader was nominated as party candidate by Vijayan. Since his candidacy, one
faction from the party and former LDF partner Janata Dal (S) opposed and
questioned the decision. Dal state president MP Veerendra Kumar had been
representing Kozhikode constituency for years. Janata Dal broke away from
LDF on this issue.
Janata Dal rejoiced the victory of Congress candidate M.K.
Rgahavan from Kozhikode, likely more than Congress. It was a sweet revenge
of Dal against CPM's alleged autocracy. Neighboring Wayanad, the new name in
Loksabha constituency has been always a UDF strong hold for decades. Wayanad
was not included among key constituency until NCP president K. Muraleedharan
came into fray. M.I Shanavas wanted an easy walk over from there. Congress
expected nothing more than a victory for Shanavas there. He had lost all
elections he had fought before. But Muraleedharan's arrival on the scene
made a triangle fight there. Finally Shanavas was elected with biggest
margin of the state, defeating Rahmathulla of CPI, making all calculations
of NCP gone wrong. Muraleedharan could not make much influence in Wayanad.
Madhani factor didn't turn success even in Ponnani, controversial over the
candidacy of Hussain Randathany; PDP’s nominee. LDF tasted defeat even in
the PDP influential areas like Kollam and Aalapuzha. Leaders have many
justifications. Politics has many dimensions. The debates regarding the
failure may continue. But the sole authority in elections are voters. The
verdict is the power.
Politics for development:
The time for
hard core politics is over as peple gave their verdict. Kerala has many
expectations from newly appointed ministry. Ahmed was appointed as minister
of state; railways. Railway development has been decade’s long demand of
Kerala. The state had a considerable progress in the railway during the
tenure of O. RajaGopal. During previous ministry Kerala lost Palghat
division. Now, the chances are on the hands of new minister. Kerala,
especially Malabar region is waiting for new trains, new routes and projects
that would benefit common men.
Mullappally has been given home ministry portfolio, a challenging and most
responsible one in the time of cross border terrorism and the rise of
fundamental outfits within the state.
K.V. Thomas is in new role of central minister with agriculture portfolio.
Crisis in food security is the major challenge faced by Kerala for many
years. Kerala is depending on neighboring states for vegetables ad grains.
Many developmental activities can be possible in agriculture sector for
sustainable growth.
This is the historical, golden chance of Kerala to fly into new heights of
development.
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- Report by Rajesh Kumar for CalicutNet.com
