Amid controversies, second Pinarayi government completes first year in power

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The second Pinarayi government is completing its first year amid the Silverline development dreams and the controversies that followed. The controversies, which began with the swearing-in ceremony, have continued unabated for a year. On the one hand, there is the suspicion that the financial crisis will jeopardize development dreams. In the meantime, the government is trying to come up with alternatives such as the poverty alleviation survey, the 100-day action plan and the takeover of the Hindustan Newsprint Factory which was put on sale by the Centre. The first year also saw the approach to not let any controversy affect the ruling party or the government.

The second Pinarayi government came to power on May 20 last year and created history by becoming the first Front to achieve successive terms in Kerala.

The Thrikkakara by-election will be the first test of the Left Front government after one year of rule. The Left Front is working hard to win this election and increase the MLAs to 100 in this government. The Opposition, led by VD Satheesan, also needs to prove its mettle in this first test.

The second Pinarayi government began with the opposition boycotting the swearing-in ceremony, which was allegedly held in luxury during the Covid crisis period. The Muttil tree felling case in Wayanad erupted soon after the government came to power. The case was that protected trees were cut down extensively under the cover of an order of the Revenue Department during the first Pinarayi regime. The opposition used this as a weapon against the Left government from the beginning. Gradually it cooled down, but one controversy was followed by another. The second Pinarayi government is strategizing to ignore the allegations as it did during the previous term.

If the failures of the police were the main issues during the first Pinarayi term, then the failures in maintaining law and order caused problems in the second term. Goonda attacks and a series of communal killings have been a headache for the government. The governor and the government locked horns on many matters including the re-appointment of Kannur University VC. The controversy that Tamil Nadu was permitted cutting down trees in Mullaperiyar also flared up.

It is a relief that there will be no visible disagreements in the front during the current term of the LDF rule. However, the CPI's opposition to the Lokayukta amendment ordinance posed a challenge. The CPI also disagreed on the Kannur VC re-appointment controversy.

The government has been rocked by statewide protests against the erection of survey stone for the Silver Line project. Although the Front tried to defend the project, there were concerns about protests within the parties. Eventually, the government gave up laying stones in the disputed areas. Another headache was the pro-government trade unions in KSEB and KSRTC clashing with the management. The non-payment of salary in KSRTC was also during the first anniversary of the govenment.

Despite the allegations, the government is moving ahead with a 1557 100-day programs worth over Rs 17,000 crores as part of the first anniversary. The Life Housing Scheme and the distribution of leases are highlighted as benefits. In addition to its special intervention to identify and rehabilitate the extremely poor, the government claims to have completed its crucial mission of providing a platform for millions of job seekers on the knowledge-based job portal. Completion of land acquisition for National Highway efficiently and on time is also an achievement.

The first year of the new opposition led by VD Satheesan, was also marred by controversy within the party. While the task of challenging the government with positive criticism was being carried out in the Assembly, the question arose as to whether they were able to organize protests outside. On the Silver Line, however, the Opposition has succeeded in taking the leadership of the popular protest.