Setting aside their differences, probably for the time, coalition partners of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) displayed camaraderie at the launch of their north Kerala regional rally at Muthalakulam Maidan here on Tuesday.
As expected, Janata Dal (United) State president M.P. Veerendrakumar inaugurated the rally, aimed at highlighting the achievements of the Congress-led UDF government in the State in the last four years. The temporary truce could have the result of the Congress leadership agreeing to consider several demands of the Janata Dal (U).
The rally is being led by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary K.P. Kunhikannan and Janata Dal (U) State general sectary V. Kunhali are the vice-captains of the rally. It will conclude on May 25.
Earlier, there were speculations whether Mr. Veerendrakumar would inaugurate the rally after JD(U) district leaders had asked him to keep away from the programme. This conjecture gained momentum with the visit of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to the office of Mr. Veerendrakumar last week.
Many also believed that the renewed bonhomie between the Janata faction led by Mr. Veerendrakumar and the CPI(M) hinted that the former was moving closer to the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Balancing act
In his inaugural address, Mr. Veerendrakumar deftly balanced sentences, praising the political maturity of the Congress-led UDF, but not hurting the CPI (M)-led LDF. “It is true that we have not been able to take the achievements of the State government to the masses. We have done more than the people know. Let people examine these issues,” he said.
He said that differences of opinion cropped up in collation politics. “But in the end, all would come together. This should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Solving issues is part of political maturity. By asking me to inaugurate the rally, the UDF has expressed its decency,” Mr. Veerendrakumar said.
The JD(U) leader made no reference to CPI(M)’s style of functioning as an Opposition party though the UDF leaders had said that the rally had also been intended to expose the fake politics of the LDF and the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
UDF convener P.P. Thankachan; M.K. Raghvan, MP; Abdurehiman Randathani, MLA; JD(U) district president Manayath Chandran; and Congress leader P. Sankaran also took part.
