Let it be the beginning of a new political culture

The cordial meeting between BJP state president and Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Chief Minister V D Satheesan can be seen as a positive sign for the state's development. Rajeev Chandrasekhar met the Chief Minister in his chamber to discuss development projects in the Nemom constituency. A photograph of the meeting was published on the front page of Kerala Kaumudi yesterday. Although the two leaders belong to political parties with very different ideologies, this did not prevent them from discussing development matters. Political rivalry, heated debates, and election-time competition have their place, but when it comes to the progress of the state, cooperation is more important.

Once a government is elected through the democratic process, all political parties should work together on issues that affect the state's development and welfare. This does not mean there should be no differences of opinion. However, matters related to public welfare should not be viewed through a narrow political lens or turned into unnecessary controversies. Ultimately, the fundamental objective of every political party is to enhance the well-being, prosperity, and quality of life of the people it serves.

After assuming office as Chief Minister, V D Satheesan visited Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. His policy approach reportedly received a positive response in the national capital. In a federal system, it is natural for a Chief Minister to meet the Prime Minister and Union ministers to raise issues concerning the state. However, maintaining friendly relations instead of constant confrontation is something that deserves appreciation.

After the meetings, the Chief Minister said he had informed the central leadership about Kerala's needs, including the state's rightful financial share, and expressed optimism about the outcome. However, some opposition leaders quickly linked his Delhi visit to the ED raids in Kerala, seizing the opportunity to level political criticism. This political culture is long overdue for a change. The controversy surrounding the PM SHRI scheme during the Pinarayi Vijayan government is still fresh in public memory. Funds that could have been utilised for the development of Kerala's education sector were ultimately foregone due to the CPI's ideological opposition. Although then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Education Minister V. Sivankutty initially disagreed with the CPI's stance, they later backed down, resulting in the state losing access to those funds.

The VD Satheesan government came to power promising to usher in a new era for Kerala. The Chief Minister's clear and transparent positions on various issues have raised significant expectations among the people. Speaking at the inauguration of the 115th anniversary celebrations of Kerala Kaumudi in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday, the Chief Minister answered questions from experts representing various fields. Such an open interaction would have been difficult to imagine in the past. The audience watched with admiration as the Chief Minister responded clearly and confidently to the questions raised before him. For Kerala Kaumudi, the event was a matter of pride. It resembled a direct conversation between the people and the Chief Minister. We take immense pride and satisfaction in having facilitated such an interaction. Let this serve as a stepping stone towards fostering a new political culture that can help shape a brighter future for Kerala.