Nava Kerala survey backfires

Government programs should benefit people as a whole and the country. It should not be framed in a way to curry favour with a particular political party. Similarly, any action taken by the government that violates the procedures can be questioned in the courts. The court does not examine the importance of the action, but the evidence. The government's procedures were not created by the court, but by the government itself. When the government itself violates them, it is natural to get backlash from the courts.

The High Court ordered the government to stop the Nava Kerala survey, citing the fact that public funds cannot be used without financial approval.

The court, after asking how the CPM state secretary had sent a letter to the cadres before the government even announced the project, validated allegations of malicious intent behind such a move. The petitioners presented the letter from the CPM state secretary in the court. KSU state president Aloshius Xavier and Odakalli native M.H. Mubas are the petitioners. The petitioners alleged that the government implemented the survey aimed at the assembly elections.

The court also quashed the subsequent proceedings of the order issued on October 10, 2025, regarding the survey and related orders. The court order states that no amount should be allocated or spent in the name of a special PR campaign without including it in the Rules of Business (Government's procedural rules). The division bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Shyamkumar quashed the order in which the government allocated Rs 20 crore for the survey. The survey process began when the local body election code of conduct was in force. The survey, which began on January 1, was scheduled to end on the 28th of this month. The aim was to complete it before the announcement of the assembly elections.

The dubious intention again paid the price for the government, as it was in the case of the Global Ayyappa Forum. The survey should be conducted for the general good and welfare of the country and not for political gains. Instead of trying shrewd politicking through surveys, the government could walk the straight path, taking credit for the development works carried out in the state for the past five years, and see whether people would choose them again.

Forums and surveys conducted at odd times are surely a gimmick to put dust in people’s eyes and win the mandate through sheer politicking. The tricks won’t survive in the present times, and the party should be ready to face the backlash.