On Wednesday, the buzz in the city was palpable. From numerous motorbike processions carrying the red flag of the Left parties and distribution of sweets and payasam at street corners to bursting of firecrackers as the time for swearing-in of the Left Democratic Front government drew near, there was a festive atmosphere all round.
All roads seemed to lead to Central Stadium, the venue of the swearing-in, but at Gandhi Park in East Fort, amid the humdrum of life, large screens drew a fair number of people to see Pinarayi Vijayan being administered the oath of office by Governor P. Sathasivam.
A number of people were present even before the ceremony got under way and sat through till after the last Minister was sworn in.
Manoj R., a college teacher, said he hoped the new government would do well, and the votes it had got was proof of the confidence reposed in it by the people.
On whether the government would find it difficult to live up to expectations, he said it would depend on the situations it found itself in.
A government employee who refused to be named said it was a different experience watching the event in open air, where one could talk to the person sitting beside and exchange thoughts, than sit in front of the television at home. She hoped for good governance from the government, especially as Mr. Vijayan was at its helm.
Some people who were in the area walked in on seeing the gathering, which kept on swelling as the Ministers read out their oath.
Feroze Khan Mohammad Basheer, a building contractor, who had stopped by said he expected good things, especially as a good team was in place. Mr. Vijayan, he said, was an able leader with a mind of his own. About hopes for his sector, he said he was praying for a reduction in tax on raw materials and their increased availability.
M.P. Sethumadhavan, a municipal service librarian from Ernakulam, was at Central Stadium before reaching Gandhi Park in connection with work. The LDF win, he said, was expected, and increased transparency was what he was rooting for. Mr. Vijayan was a vigilant leader, and he would run a tight ship. Besides Mr. Vijayan, C. Raveendranath and G. Sudhakaran were the Ministers whose performance he looked forward to, Mr. Sethumadhavan said.
