Protests, controversies galore as Kerala heads for Assembly election

State Election Commission has started assigning responsibilities to higher officials for the polls. Stringent action would be sought against 'fake voters'.

Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala heads for Assembly elections with Opposition parties raking up controversies and LDF Government pushing development projects, the State Election Commission has also started its preparation for the polls. The Commission has started assigning responsibilities to the higher officials for the election. This time, the Commission would take stringent action against ‘fake voters’ allegedly rampant in some regions of Kerala.

Chief Election Commissioner Tikka Ram Meena reminded that strict action would be initiated against the officials deputed for election duty if they allow or support fake voters, or other such rigging or booth capturing activities. The officials found to be behaving in a biased manner would be suspended. They would have to face prosecution procedures too, Meena stated. The officials’ groups carrying the postal ballots would be accompanied by a videographer and security officers.

As the poll days get closer, more and more controversies and allegations emerge in Kerala. From allegations on Public Service Commission (PSC) recruitments, backdoor appointments, rank holders’ protests, the tussle is ongoing now on the International Film Festival of Kerala.

The latest allegation is that actor and award winner Salim Kumar was not invited to the inaugural ceremony of the International Film Festival of Kerala in Kochi, based on a political bias. Following this, the Congress-led UDF stayed away from the ceremony.

On the PSC appointment issue, though the Chief Minister had directly elaborated on the appointment procedures and other details on Tuesday and Wednesday, the protestors remain undeterred. The Government’s plant to conduct a massive regularisation drive which had led to the controversy has also been put on hold.

Though the regularisation has been put on hold, the employees on a temporary basis would not be neglected, the CM clarified on Wednesday. He said, if the LDF Government comes to power in the coming elections, their jobs would be regularised.

The protestors are planning to intensify their agitation. Youth Congress leaders are also holding an agitation in front of the Secretariat. BJP leader Shobha Surendran is also observing a hunger strike for 48 hours for the sake of the job seekers. Shobha said her protest his backed by the BJP leadership. It is after almost a year since Shobha Surendran actively engaged in such a protest stage.

Rumours rife that the UDF and the BJP have set their strategies and tactics to win. The BJP aims for 71 seats in the Assembly. The Congress and the BJP national leadership have directed their State leaders to identify and field popular, people-friendly candidates in the contesting constituencies. The BJP and the Congress have been conducting surveys and getting feedback from the public.

The regionals and zonal chapters have been told to list the CPM and CPI candidates respectively. The candidates’ selection’ for the Muslim League has been entrusted with the State President. The UDF is all out, quite literally, with their Aishwarya Kerala Yathra and the ‘talk to Tharoor sessions’. Tharoor is interacting with people and knowing their pulse as part of formulating the election campaign manifesto.

The BJP also makes plans to gain the trust of the Christian communities and to bring a people-friendly election manifesto. Even as everything gets set, the Election Commission is yet to declare the dates for the polls. All parties and their workers are awaiting the announcement of election dates by the Election Commission.