The Opposition has described the Governor’s address in the Assembly on Friday as the election manifesto of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and described the LDF regime as the darkest age in the history of the State.
Reacting to the Governor’s address, Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Kerala Congress(Mani) chairman K.M.Mani told reporters that the government which has hardly four months left before the next Assembly elections, has used the speech for its electioneering. The claim that the government’s tenure will be written as the golden period of the history is baseless. Failing to do anything substantial, it will be known as the darkest period in the State’s history.
While claiming that construction of the Vizhinjam transhipment container terminal was a high priority project, the government has done nothing but to construct a 700 metre road linking the coastal area and the National Highway. The National Water Way which could have eased the pressure on movement of goods and given a boost to tourism has not yet been taken up. The Kochi Metro railway project too was in limbo. The government cannot keep the people away from the reality for long. When the BJP made a similar claim in 2004 elections through the slogan `India is shining’ people voted against it. The same will be the fate of the UDF, Mr.Chandy said.
Mr.Mani accused the government of eroding the credibility of the Governor’s address by making false claims. The projects that have been mentioned in the speech are languishing. The claim that Kerala was one of the fast growing States in the country has been made without comparing the growth and development registered in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Hence it amounted to self-deception. The Kuttanad package has not been implemented. The speech was silent on Idukki package. While presenting the corruption cases at the Centre, the speech remains silent on the corruption charges levelled against various departments. The government was aiding and abetting corruption. Such announcements cannot be translated into votes, he said.
