Kerala: Political history
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Contents |
Governor versus state government/chief minister
2019-22
BS AnilKumar, Oct 19, 2022: The Times of India
From: Oct 19, 2022: The Times of India
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan’s Twitter threat to sack LDF ministers “lowering the dignity” of his office and the CPM politburo’s r etort a bout his “ dictatorial” ways on Tuesday escalated into open confrontation, feeding on a false start in 2019 that festered for three years before blowing up.
Several cabinet members jumped into the fray after Khan’ s tweet fuelled the constant undercurrent of acrimony, directly or obliquely accusing him of now trying to unconstitutionally impose his writ on the government. Khan’s allegedly provocati ve social media messaging came a day after he removed15 members of the Kerala University senate on Sunday for skipping a meeting convened in his capacity as chancellor of the institution.
Three years ago, it was an episode at another university — at Kannur — that seemed to ignite the blowhot-blow-cold relationship between the governor and the LDF government. Khan had just repl aced Justice P Sathasivam at Raj Bhavan when his views on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 put him on a collision course with the Vijayangovernment. He was at the 80th edition of the Indian History Congr ess in Kannur university, of which he is the chancellor, when a group of delegates led by historian Irfan Habib allegedly heckled himas he was defending CAA in response to the former’s speech. Kha later refused to read out an anti-CAA reference in the governor’s address to the state assembly. Although he relented at the CM’s pleading, ties between them ostensibly never healed.
Khan, who had all along been silent on the protest he faced at Kannur University, raised the issue only after the hullabaloo over the inflight protest against CM Vijayan by two Youth Congress workers last July. He claimed the “protocol violation” at the history congress was part of a planned attempt on his life and criticised the state government for not initiating police action against Habib and others.
2018
Sabarimla impact: Left loses post in panchayat polls
November 28, 2018: The Times of India
Kerala Janapaksham won the vice-president’s post in Poonjar panchayat with the support of BJP. Both parties are on the same page on the Sabarimala issue. Soon after the victory, Kerala Janapaksham leader PC George said there would be cooperation between two parties at the state level.
George said he would request the Speaker to allot a separate block for him and BJP MLA O Rajagopal in the assembly so that they can be seated together. “We have reached an understanding for floor-level cooperation in the assembly. On Sabarimala, we share a similar view. We would like to extend that cooperation. We jointly walked out from the all-party meeting convened by CM Pinarayi Vijayan to discuss the Sabarimala issue,” said BJP state chief P S Sreedharan Pillai.
George’s constituency Poonjar is en route to Sabarimala. Therefore, BJP is aware that his support is vital for its prospects in this region. George can also act as a bridge between BJP and prominent Christian denominations and help the party widen its base.
George had said he didn’t treat BJP as a troublesome party. “We tried to forge an alliance with all parties and only BJP responded. That doesn’t mean we will join BJP; there will be an understanding for the time being,” he said. Janapaksham candidate Leelamma Chacko – who represents Valathookku ward – was elected with the support of Congress and the lone BJP member.
…but wins 21 of the 39 local body wards
In bypolls, LDF wins Sabari town’s faith, December 1, 2018: The Times of India
With victory in 21 of the 39 local body wards where bypolls were held in Kerala, the ruling LDF proved the gamble it took in the Sabarimala women entry issue has not set it back. On the pre-poll scoresheet too, LDF had 21 seats. BJP won two new seats but lost a sitting one to LDF.
The campaign for the bypolls was as fiery as any general election as it took place in the swirling controversy around entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple. The CPM-led LDF campaigned hard to convince voters about the position the Pinarayi Vijayan government took while Congressled UDF and BJP tried to cash in on religious sentiments hurt of reportedly the majority Hindu community.
BJP, which won two panchayat wards in Alappuzha district, cut a sorry figure in neighbouring Pathanamthitta district, where Sabarimala temple is located. In Pandalam municipality, the nerve centre of Sabarimala protest organised by Hindu outfits, BJP nominee polled 12 votes in the Kadakkad division, where SDPI, the political party of Muslim group NDF, emerged winner.
The loser in the polls was the Congress-led UDF which won 11 wards, losing five from its pre-poll tally of 16. SDPI won two seats against one it previously held. Independents won three wards. Tho- ugh LDF celebrates its win, vote shares of BJP and SDPI have grown substantially in at least some pockets.
BJP, which won two panchayat wards in Alappuzha, cut a sorry figure in Pathanamthitta, where the Sabarimala temple is located.
2019
Election expenses of BJP, Congress, CPM
March 26, 2021: The Times of India
From: Aswin J Kumar, March 26, 2021: The Times of India
Kerala elections: BJP spent Rs 43 crore in 2016, won 1 seat; CPM Rs 11 crore, Congress Rs 9 crore
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP, which won a single seat in 2016 assembly polls, had pumped in more than double the total funds spent by CPM and CPI, according to an analysis of expenditure statements filed by parties with the Election Commission of India. The collective amount spent by CPM, CPI and Congress was way lower than BJP’s total expenditure in 2016 elections.
BJP’s total expenditure for Kerala assembly polls, including that of central headquarters and state unit stood at Rs 43.37 crore in 2016. The cumulative expenditure of CPM, CPI and Congress in the state was less than Rs 30 crore. CPM and CPI collectively spent Rs 19 crore while Congress recorded an expenditure of nearly Rs 10 crore.
BJP paid an amount of Rs 13.5 crore as total lump sum payments to candidates. It spent a total of Rs 28 crore on candidates, which also included expenses on media advertisement, publicity materials, vehicles, rallies, and processions.
BJP candidate A Rajasenan (Aruvikkara) received the highest share of the lump sum; Rs 21 lakh, while O Rajagopal, Nemom candidate, who got elected to the assembly, received just Rs 1,032, the lowest of all contributions.
V Unnikrishnan Master who contested from Kottakkal also received a sizable contribution of Rs 19.49 lakh from the party. Star campaigners of BJP paid 264 visits to various constituencies, which cost Rs 1.31 crore as taxi and helicopter charges. As many as 660 public meetings/conventions were organized at a cost of Rs 2.63 crore by BJP.
BJP central headquarters had spent Rs 14.75 crore on general party propaganda and Rs 5.64 crore on travel expenses of star campaigners. Amit Shah, along with others visited Kerala four times for the campaign and these visits cost the party Rs 1.05 crore.
The saffron outfit spent Rs 8.41 crore on media advertisement. More than half a crore was spent on public meetings/processions/rallies. BJP state unit received Rs 7 crore from central headquarters in two installments. The state unit spent Rs 14.1 crore for general party propaganda for which Rs 2.63 crore was spent on media advertisement and Rs 6 crore on publicity materials. It spent Rs 2.63 crore on public meetings, rallies and processions and had Rs 3.96 crore as balance at the completion of the election.
CPM had gross receipts of Rs 28.79 crore from all sources from the announcement of the election to the date of completion of the election in 2016. The state unit of the party incurred an expenditure of Rs 11 crore for general party propaganda of which Rs 10 crore was spent on media advertisement and Rs 92 lakh on publicity materials.
The party spent only Rs 2.32 lakh on the travel expense of star campaigners. CPM spent Rs 11.5 lakh as total lump sum payments to candidates. It had nine-star campaigners in 2016. As per the statement, three candidates, P Sreeramakrishnan, K Nishanth and VKC Mohammedkoya were given lump-sum payments.
Congress spent Rs 8.7 crore as a total lump sum payment to candidates, distributing Rs 10 lakh each to all of them. The total amount spent by the party on general party propaganda was Rs 41.06 lakh.
CPI had 27 candidates in 2016 and spent a total amount of Rs 8.27 crore. An amount of Rs 93.5 lakh was spent as cash distribution through district secretaries.
The party spent Rs 6.21 crore for general party propaganda and Rs 2.06 crore on candidates. It had Rs 7.5 crore as receipts from the date of announcement to the date of completion of the election.
2020
Kerala Cong (M) faction breaks 38-year-old UDF ties to join LDF
October 15, 2020: The Times of India
Kerala Cong (M) faction breaks 38-year-old UDF ties to join LDF
Kottayam:
The Jose K Mani faction in Kerala Congress (M) will join the governing Left Democratic Front (LDF), ending its 38-year-long ties with the United Democratic Front (UDF). The other faction is led by PJ Joseph and both the factions have been claiming to be the real KC (M).
Holding a press conference at the party headquarters in Kottayam on Wednesday, Jose Mani said KC (M) has decided to work jointly with LDF based on its policies. “We will work jointly for the farmers... Only LDF can defeat the communal forces and preserve secularism... The party steering committee has decided to initiate discussions regarding this,” he said.
Jose claimed that the party decision would determine the future politics in Kerala. “We haven’t talked to LDF regarding the sharing of seats. We announced our political stand. We will wait for the LDF response and talks will begin after they respond,” he said. Jose announced that he would quit the Rajya Sabha membership in keeping with ethical values, both political and individual. However, he ruled out Thomas Chazhikadan quitting as Kottayam MP.
