The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) would come out with its election manifesto on April 21.
The LDF State committee, which held a roughly six-hour discussion on the manifesto, is understood to have decided to stick to its stated position on liquor policy and to promise a Kerala that is free from hunger.
The LDF panel is for creating the necessary infrastructure for faster north-south travel by train and to initiate steps to take decentralised planning to the next level.
The LDF is for abstinence rather than prohibition.
The alliance has already declared that if elected to power, its effort would be bring down liquor consumption in stages.
How this position would get expressed in the manifesto and whether there would be any statement on the roll back on the curbs on sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), imposed by the United Democratic Front (UDF) government, remains to be seen.
Based on inputs
The committee held its discussions based on the inputs provided by each of the LDF constituents and the conclusions arrived at by the fourth International Congress on Kerala Studies organised by the AKG Centre for Research and Studies.
The committee was of the view that since the election process would begin only on April 22, there is no reason to rush with the manifesto.
Going by indications available now, the LDF envisages a big role for the Kudumbasree movement in the future of the decentralised planning initiative. It also wants to provide ration cards to all families and ensure that outlets run by the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplco) do not hike prices of essentials during the tenure of the next government.
In what could be a key measure, the Opposition alliance might also promise paternity leave for husbands.
- On liquor policy, the LDF is for abstinence
The LDF will strive to reduce liquor consumption in stages
