The first full meeting of the United Democratic Front after the re-entry of the Kerala Congress (M), on Monday, decided to stick to the agreements on power sharing in local bodies in the State where the coalition is in office.
At a press meet after the meeting, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan and secretary Johnny Nellore said instructions had been given to the coalition representatives in the local bodies to observe the power-sharing agreement.
The coalition leadership also decided to hold bilateral talks on the organisational changes to be made in the backdrop of the return of the Kerala Congress (M). Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president M.M. Hassan will lead the bilateral talks. The agreements had virtually lapsed after the KC(M) quit the front in August 2016.
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Poll preparations
The meeting also decided to begin preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A session will be organised on August 7 to plan the election preparations.
The meeting also registered its protest against the Prime Minister’s refusal to meet an all-party delegation from Kerala to press development issues. In protest, the UDF will hold a demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan on July 17.
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The meeting also expressed its opposition to the amendments made to the Kerala Wetland and Paddy Conservation Act of 2008, stating that the government had moved the amendments to help the land mafia. “The Communist Party of India too is opposed to the dilution of the 2008 Act,” Mr. Thankachan said.
The UDF also criticised the government for using the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Fund Board (KIIFB) to sanction projects liberally in constituencies of LDF legislators. KIIFB had failed to mobilise funds for development as promised. The new pravasi chitty, which has been targeted for mobilising funds for investments, is another pipe dream.