Tuesday, 11 April 2017

With Malice Towards None K. J. THOMAS

With Malice Towards None                           K. J. Thomas

The interview of TOI with Kummanam Rajasekharan appeared on 21st April 2016 of Times of India daily in which the state President of BJP claimed that NDA would win more than 70 seats and form a government after the Kerala Assembly election. Although BJP has not won a single seat till date, the prediction of the State President thrilled me with joy as I dream of the introduction of a government formed by a new ‘Front’ namely NDA in the political arena of Kerala. Not only did that the guts or confidence of the State President of BJP amaze me, but I am sure, if such an optimistic President leads NDA in this election, there is a chance for miracle to happen in this state, as it did in Bengal a few years ago when Trinamul Congress under the inspiring leadership of Mamta Banerji wiped out the three decades long Marxist rule. The moment I finished reading the interview, I too became an ardent devotee of the charismatic leader of the Lotus party.
 Pinarayi Vijayan, the leader of LDF claimed 100 seats while UDF is complacent with the prospects of the continuation of the present government.  Their predictions have no element of surprise, as we all know that Kerala is always ruled by either LDF or UDF governments every five years. If Ummachen is out, the place is occupied by Lonappan and if Lonappan is rejected, Ummachen comes in again. Thus Kerala has been walking Left and Right for decades now.  Both the Left and the Right have the same ideology and policies. They are the two sides of the same coin!
 In the 1950s Communists were considered as the epitome of ‘devils’ by the Christian community but now everything is changed and the former has become angels for the latter.
 The same social stigma that imposed on the communists in the 1950s is now afflicted with the BJP in the state.  They are branded as communal party, whereas Kerala Congress and Muslim League are baptized as secular and holy.  This branding is mainly due to the propaganda of the newspapers and electronic media which largely depend upon the main stream political giants namely LDF and UDF. The business community always pampers to the needs of both these giants as they know well ‘either Lonappan or Ummachen will come to power. So all the bureaucrats from the peon to the IAS and IPS dance to the tune of these ‘Achayans’.
Corrupted activities and bribery of the ministers always appear in the front page of every newspaper daily and an enquiry commission is appointed to punish the guilty but soon the minister comes out of the acid test, as if he had come from Heaven, it seems, purified and holy like a saint and all people are ashamed and sorry for leveling such heinous charges against such a saintly minister! And he is promptly reinstated in the cabinet. The same drama goes on whether Lonappan or Ummachen rules the state! This is why the people of Kerala are tired of these two giants – the Left and the Right not because they are bad, but because we are tired of seeing such ‘melodramas’ for a long time!
 All corrupted activities are vaporized in no time and these innocent, saintly ministers declare that they believe only in one court – the people’s court’ namely the election and they are well aware that by playing all the dirty tricks, money and muscle power they can easily win the seat!
 It is calculated that about 90% of voters are divided between LDF or UDF fanatics and the balance 10% voters are normal and impartial and independent in their thinking. This is the pattern of Kerala election. But now with the arrival of Modi wave at the centre, slight changes are occurring in the traditional vote banks. Fissures are appeared in various parties including the Christian and Muslim community who always stand with the UDF and LDF.
 Recently church shared a saffron stage at Kothamangalam to support P.C.Cyriac, a candidate in the assembly election with the backing of NDA and the election convention was inaugurated by the Union Minister.
 A few Kerala Congress factions took shelter in the NDA and, the support of Ezhava community under the leadership of Vellappally Nadesan enkindle hope to the prediction of Kummanam Rajasekharan. If a miracle happens, and the prediction of Kummanam comes true, how long the government will continue is a big question. Internal schism for which Kerala BJP is world famous is the number one danger. If the future Chief Minister Rajasekharan very skillfully overcomes the first trouble, there will be the most dangerous giant waiting outside to topple his government. It is none other than the grand unity of Lonappan and Ummachan. The congress and the Communist have already got in to a betrothed ceremony in the state of Bengal only to defeat Mamta Banerjee’s TMC in Bengal Assembly election now.

We may imagine that the same unity will be forged here too, which will open up a new era of Kerala politics. At present in a broad sense, there are no issues since ideological differences between the LDF and the UDF are mostly non-existent. It seems they copy each other's manifestoes and styles of development.                                                                                                                                       Kjt/23-04-2016



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