The beleaguered UDF leaders vehemently deny it has. But, the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders, buoyed by the recent political developments say it has, and that it marks the beginning of the UDF Government’s end.

The most significant aspect of the emerging political situation is the distinct change in the attitude of the LDF, especially the CPI(M). There is no denying the fact that the CPI(M) has shed its initial reluctance to ‘go for the kill.’ The CPI(M) leaders had, hitherto, been unwilling to take steps that would cause the collapse of the ‘thoroughly discredited’ UDF Government.

All that has changed. Top CPI(M) leaders, including State party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan now say that the party would welcome allies of the Congress in the UDF who are unhappy about its performance. Party’s Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai went one step further to assert that ‘disgruntled’ elements in the UDF camp, which had left the LDF to join the former, would be taken back should they decide to quit the ruling coalition. He attached only one condition to the offer: these parties will have to publicly change their stance towards the LDF before they are admitted back to the LDF fold.

The rising confidence of the LDF can be attributed to the growing dissatisfaction of the smaller allies in the UDF. Despite the protestations to the contrary by the Congress, the disillusionment of these allies like the K R Gowri-led Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) and the Communist Marxist Party(CMP) led by M V Raghavan is discernible. Even the M P Veerendra Kumar-led Socialist Janat (Democratic) is no longer making their sense of unease a secret. The party leaders, some of whom openly say they have a ‘leftist mind’ despite being in the UDF camp, are extremely unhappy about the Congress-led Government’s performance.

CMP secretary K R Aravindakshan is on record that minor parties in the UDF have been discriminated against right from the beginning. The CMP and the JSS allege that all the decisions are taken by the three big parties in the UDF: the Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kerala Congress (Mani).

The CMP’s latest grievance relates to the chairmanship of the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC). Mr Aravindakshan said although the CMP never staked a claim for the post, the party was offered the post, first, by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and later by other UDF leaders.

However, Finance Minister and KC(M) chief K M Mani overruled Chennithala and gave the post to a man of his choice , P Joy Oommen, former chief secretary of Chhattisgarh, to the annoyance of the CMP. Mani’s decision is being construed as his own way of settling scores with the Congress because of growing differences between the two parties. Mani’s move has come amidst mounting speculation that the Finance Minister himself is not averse to crossing over to the LDF camp if he gets a ‘befitting offer’. After all, Mani had, in a recent interview to a TV channel, given a ‘clean chit’ to CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin issue!

It is against these developments that the LDF leaders’ latest political pronouncements should be viewed. In fact, a lot of credit must be given to the CPI leaders for the ‘changed perception’ of the CPI(M), acknowledging the ground realities. CPI leaders were the first in the LDF camp to express the view that the time has come to relieve the people of Kerala of the UDF Government’s misrule. The CPI(M) leaders were initially hesitant to take the cue from the CPI, but upped the ante against the Oommen Chandy-led UDF Government later. Sceptics say the earlier reluctance of the CPI(M) was due to their fear that, in the event of a change of government, VS Achuthanandan may get another chance to become the Chief Minister!

The coming days could witness heightened political activity in both the camps. The UDF leaders are trying hard, unsuccessfully so far, to undo the enormous damage caused by their unprincipled and callous stand in the Suryanelli and P J Kurien issue.

On their part, the LDF leaders are leaving no stone unturned to twist the knife in the UDF wound. The southern leg of the four CPI(M)-sponsored national jathas has been flagged off from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu by party ‘s general secretary Prakash Karat. The southern jatha will be led by Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai. All top Kerala leaders, including V S who is at odds with the state leadership of the party at present, are expected to join the jatha as soon as it enters Kerala. The jathas have been undertaken to energise the party’s rank and file and prepare them for the battles ahead, especially the Lok Sabha elections due next year. (IPA Service)