Assembly Elections closing in: LDF planning series of protests against Centre; Chief Minister's fast on street

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The benefits that were given in a rush ahead of the local body elections did not help. The minority did not support. The majority group were not impressed. Will the only recourse now be to protest against the centre to attract the people?

The Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs and party MPs are reportedly taking to the streets to fight. As the first step, the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs and MPs will fast on January 12 at the Palayam Martyrs' Column in Thiruvananthapuram. The declaration of war was made at the LDF meeting held yesterday. Political observation is that the Left is opening up its protest against the Center and is devising schemes after the tried and tested strategies failed.

The protest against the Centre's financial constraints on the state will be intensified. Issues such as unscientific changes made in the employment guarantee scheme, arrears of central share in welfare pension, and reduction in loan limit will be raised in the protest.

The Chief Minister and other ministers had staged a protest in Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The assembly elections are five months away. Although showing great confidence, the CPM and the front are realising that their hopes of continued rule have faded. The only agenda of the LDF meeting held yesterday was how to win the assembly elections.

The results of the local body elections will be assessed at the LDF meeting to be held on January 6 or 7. The LDF meeting assessed that there is no opposition from the Congress despite the Centre denying the deserved benefits.

Protest at the local level, three regional marches

• Following the fast, strike programs will be formulated, focusing on local bodies in all districts. Three regional marches will be held in the first week of February against central neglect.
• The arrangements are such that the march will reach at least one centre in one assembly constituency.
• One march will be led by the CPM state secretary and the other by the CPI state secretary. The third march is likely to be led by the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction.

Weapon against Congress, Mattathur

The Chief Minister's mockery yesterday that Congress is a party that is trying to join the BJP in a single jump was also taken from the political crisis. The Chief Minister said about the defection of Congress members in Mattathur gram panchayat that Congressmen will not think twice to change the palm symbol to a lotus.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan criticized Pinarayi as the Chief Minister who signs wherever Modi and Amit Shah say.