The Left Democratic Front on Thursday celebrated its first anniversary in power, with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announcing his government’s proposal to develop hill and coastal highways, besides completing the stalled work on the National Waterway.
The United Democratic Front boycotted the function organised by the government and marked its protest by taking out demonstrations across 140 Assembly constituencies in the State.
Addressing an impressive function at the Nishagandhi open air auditorium, the Chief Minister said the success his government had achieved in the last one year had made the Opposition restive. His government would continue to work for people’s welfare. He urged the people of Kerala, non-resident Keralites and other well-wishers across the political spectrum to extend their support to the government.
Mr. Vijayan laid special emphasis on his government’s plan to develop Hill and Coastal Highways with a human face. People who surrendered their land would be compensated, but the government was firm about not bowing to needless opposition.
The National Waterway from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod, work on which had not made headway during the last decade of its development, would be given special attention so that it could emerge as a major channel for carrying cargo.
Protests across State
He also made special mention of the government’s efforts to revive traditional industries with a large workforce.
The UDF leaders spread across the State, holding evening demonstrations. The main theme that the Leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president M.M. Hassan and other UDF leaders focussed on was the LDF government’s “dismal record” on the law and order front. They also focussed on the growing differences between the CPI(M) and the CPI, the two major partners of the LDF, over a range of issues.
They questioned the rationale of spending funds on the anniversary bash at a time when the State was facing drought conditions.
Secretariat siege
The Youth Congress and the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha, youth organisations of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, laid siege to the State Secretariat in a bid to mar the anniversary celebrations. Tension prevailed much before the siege officially began by 6 a.m., with activists of the two organisations mobilising supporters from Wednesday evening. The siege degenerated into pitched battle and stone-throwing between the the Youth Congress and the Yuva Morcha activists.
