When it assumed power, the air was thick with the miasma of misrule, corruption and cynicism – a bitter legacy handed down by the thoroughly discredited United Democratic Front(UDF)-Government led by the Congress. The victory of the LDF in the bitterly fought assembly elections, therefore, came as a whiff of fresh air for a people craving for change. In no time, the Government swung into action. Cynicism yielded place to positivism and hope replaced hopelessness. The scent of optimism was very much in the air.

The biggest achievement of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Government has been its success in stemming the tide of communalism washing better part of the country. The triumphant march of majoritarianism has been halted literally at the Kerala borders. The sinister RSS-BJP game-plan to conquer Kerala, a bastion of secularism, using the tactics which helped the party win Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, came a cropper in Kerala. Amit Shah and company, realized to their utter chagrin, that the divide-the-people-on communal-grounds stratagem, won’t succeed in the southern state.

And by successfully thwarting the nefarious designs of the Sangh Parivar, Kerala proved that given the political will and determination, the forces of fascism can be stopped in their tracks. This is a lesson which other States, keen on keeping the divisive forces at bay, would do well to learn and internalize. Both the CPI(M) and the CPI deserve full credit for firming up the secular ethos of the state. And Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led from the front by launching a vigorous campaign against the communal forces. That the fascist forces were rattled by the LDF drive was clear from the manner in which they abused and threatened the Chief Minister and other LDF leaders. The LDF must sustain the momentum of this campaign so that Kerala remains a citadel of secular democracy.

The Government also succeeded in cleaning the political system and replacing it with a healthy political culture. Unhealthy trends and malpractises, the hallmark of the erstwhile UDF Government, became a thing of the past. The Government laid accent – rightly so – on welfare measures and social justice steps meant for labourers and working class. Traditional industries like coir and cashew were revived and the distress of workers relieved.

The outlook on the infrastructure development, too, brightened with a slew of projects right on track. Among the projects which are moving in a time-bound manner are the national highway, Kochi metro which the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate, the GAIL pipeline, the Kannur International Airport, about to take off by the year end, and the power transmission line from Koodankulam.

On the question of eradicating corruption, a top priority item on the LDF manifesto, the CM said there will be no compromise in cases registered against the corrupt. Ministerial misdemeanour was visited with swift punishment. Industries Minister E P Jayarajan who faced charges of nepotism was shown the door promptly. Another minister AK Sasheendran was also told to go when he was accused of making sexist remarks against a woman. This is in glaring contrast with the record of the Oommen Chandy Government in which as many as nine ministers, who faced vigilance probe on corruption charges, clung to their posts like limpets.

The Opposition, understandably, has challenged the government’s claims of good governance. The LDF Government’s performance during the last one year has been an unmitigated disaster, crowed leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala. Nothing has gone right for this government, he claimed, adding that a slew of controversies, lack of collective responsibility, police excesses and surge in political violence were the principal ‘achievements’ of the Vijayan Government.

Of course, it has not been an year of unmixed blessing. Not even the most diehard LDF supporter will claim that. The Government has made mistakes. But, what is important is that it has had the courage to acknowledge the mistakes and initiate quick remedial steps, unlike the previous Congress-led Government which never acted against ministerial misconduct and wrong-doing.

That said, it is also a fact that there are several wrinkles which need to be ironed out.

The most serious challenge the government faces is the rising graph of political violence involving the CPI(M) and the RSS-BJP workers. The violence has already claimed many lives. A positive step aimed at curbing violence has been the CPI(M)’s declaration that the party won’t shield its workers found involved in political violence and murder. The BJP-RSS must follow suit. But it is a matter of regret that it has not done so far. Being the ruling party, the CPI(M) has a special responsibility to stop the killings. Failure to do so would only give a fillip to BJP-RSS efforts to destabilize the LDF Government.

Another area of concern which should be addressed is the airing of differences between the CPI(M) and the CPI. This must stop forthwith as an open airing of the differences would only give a handle to the political rivals to weaken the government.

Last but not the least, the Chief Minister would need to change his autocratic style of functioning. A main complaint against Vijayan is that he concentrates all powers in his hands, keeping his ministerial colleagues firmly under his thumb. This is unfair. The CM of a coalition government must be a bit more accommodative and accessible. An inflexible and rigid attitude goes against coalition dharma. The CM must also give up the habit of rushing into making hasty statements only to retrace his steps later. It is of utmost importance that the Government avoid controversies and retain the focus on good governance and development. (IPA Service)