RMP presents development plans

Development not by robbing people’s livelihood: nominees

P. Kumarankutty and N.P. Pratap Kumar, RMP candidates in Vadakara and Kozhikode constituencies, respectively, with BJP candidate in Vadakara V.K. Sajeevan (right) at a meet-thecandidates programme of the Calicut Press Club on Friday. Photo: K. Ragesh

P. Kumarankutty and N.P. Pratap Kumar, the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) candidates for Vadakara and Kozhikode Lok Sabha constituencies respectively, have flayed the approach of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to the State’s development.

They were speaking at a meet-the-candidates programme, “Dilli Chalo” held at the Calicut Press Club here on Friday.

For the last several years, the UDF and the LDF had been treading the same path, be it on National Highway widening or self-financing colleges, they said.

Mr. Kumarankutty and Mr. Kumar were members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and also councillors of the Kozhikode Corporation.

They said they had left the party dispirited by its neo-liberal polices and muzzling of internal democracy. “Our party is not against development. We have a clear stand on the development needs of a place. Development should not be done by robbing peopl’s livelihood and destroying environment,” he said.

More than 75,000 families would be evicted if the National Highway project was implemented in the State. The UDF and the LDF wanted the road to be widened by 45m, though 30m was enough. The project was mired in corruption, Mr. Kumarankutty said.

Mr. Pratap said many new projects in the State reflected the interests of the corporate sector. Instead of developing infrastructure in all government school in the city, he said, focus was given on a single school. Crores of rupees were spent on infrastructure. The cost of uniform of a student was Rs.3,000. From the next academic year, this government school (Nadakkavu Government Girls High School) would be a school for the affluent, he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s V.K. Sajeevan, contesting from the Vadakara constituency, said the UDF and LDF were birds of the same feather.

The people of Vadakara had high expectations when Mullappally Ramachandran was made the Union Minister of State for Home. He failed to fulfil their aspirations, he said.

Nominations filed

Mr. Kumarankutty and Mr. Sajeevan filed their nominations before District Collector C.A. Latha on Friday.