Fourth year of Pinarayi government; torrential rain of challenges ahead

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Front squabble for Rajya Sabha seat, welfare pension arrears, gang violence, medicine shortage in government hospitals, ED hunt in Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank, Chief Minister's daughter's case, failure in pre-monsoon preparations... The Pinarayi government, which has entered its fourth year, is facing a torrential rain of challenges.

What changes will happen in the future will depend on the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections. The hope of LDF is that there will not be a heavy backlash like in 2019 this time. At least six seats are expected this time. Some corrections will be necessary for the government if that does not happen.

The opposition criticizes that the Home and Health Departments are in shambles. Arrears of welfare pensions of six months are yet to be settled. The move is to pay at least the remaining pension every month, but the arrears will remain. Uncertainty continues over payment of arrears of government employees and pensioners and benefits of those retiring this month.

Roads in many places, including in the capital city, are damaged. Anti-inflation measures are ineffective. With the opening of schools on the third, the common man's budget will be out of whack. However, if the election result is positive, it will be a hope to hold on to.

Plus Two Seats: League protest in Malappuram

Muslim League and other Muslim organizations are protesting that there are not enough Plus two seats or batches in Malappuram district. 79,730 people have passed SSLC in the district. At present there are 52000 seats in government, aided and unaided schools. It has been decided to increase seats by 30 percent in government schools and 20 percent in aided schools. This will take the number of students per class to over 60. Schools that have small classrooms are already struggling to accommodate students. While the push for an additional batch has been interpreted as a move to recruit in aided schools, the CPM is worried about how to resolve the issue without upsetting the league.

Rajya Sabha seat issue

The party will lose its representation in Parliament if they fail to regain the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by the Jose faction of the Kerala Congress and lose the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat. CPI is not ready to vacate the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by Binoy Viswam. RJD and NCP parties are also in the field for the seat. Problem-solving is not easy for CPM.