The CPI(M) Politburo member M A Baby has accused the chief minister Oommen Chandy of taking the State’s politics to a new low by assigning communal tinge to selection of ministers and portfolios during cabinet formation.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Mr Baby said that it might be for the first time that a chief minister divested himself from his portfolio and handed it over to another for consideration of communal identity. Accusing the UDF of unleashing the communal and religious forces, Mr Baby said the unbridled liberty given to such forces had breached all limits, so much so, that they had the arrogance to order the State’s Home Minister out of their gates.
The CPI(M) leader alleged that the UDF was encouraging political turncoats, and said the ruling coalition had brought back the era of ‘Aya Ram-Gaya Ram’ culture, prevalent in northern India politics.
Mr. Baby said that the UDF government could continue in power only because of the principled stance taken by the LDF that it will not encourage political horse trading in the State. He also pointed out that the communal and religious forces who act with impunity, never raised their head during the LDF reign, he said.
Reacting to question, the CPI(M) leader said the Indian Union Muslim League which had brought the members of the community to the mainstream was being influenced by positions of extreme character.
Mr Baby, who is a former Minister for Education, said the policies followed by the education department, irrespective of political colour of the government in power, had resulted in producing the unprecedented results for the SSLC examinations this year. “Those who criticised me for the reforms brought about in the Department would now have to study the issue seriously, he said.
To another question, Mr Baby said that the CPI()M was supportive of the original clauses in the Right to Education Bill which provided for social control of education institutions, whether it was managed by the majority community or minority community or was in the public sector.
The CPI(M) politburo member said national politics was passing through a crucial phase with the two major parties, the Congress (I) and the BJP together failing to mobilise 50 per cent share of votes. This has opened the way for the emergence of a third alternative which could be mobilised through people’s campaigns at the grass roots level, he said.
