Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened an urgent meeting of the ruling CPI-M led Left Democratic Front on Wednesday in view of the massive protests against the state government’s ambitious K-Rail project.
So far, there has been not a whimper of protest against the project within the LDF, while the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA are opposing it vehemently.
A media critic on condition of anonymity said Wednesday’s meeting is crucial as fissures appears have surfaced between the CPI and the Kerala Congress(M) parties regarding the project.
“The worst affected among the allies is the Kerala Congress(M) as it’s in their heartland in Central Kerala districts that the protests have taken a centre stage. Moreover, various churches also have started to express their ire against the project. Apparently, in the CPI also, things seem fluid as the State Revenue Minister K.Rajan of the CPI spoke in a different tone recently. So all eyes are on tomorrow’s meeting,” said the critic.
For Vijayan, he got a huge boost when the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a bunch of petitions against the ongoing survey being conducted as part of the social impact assessment study for the project, which led to the uprising.
Another party which is visibly upset with the CPI-M is the Loktantrik Janata Dal(LJD) whose nominee, media baron M.V.Shreyams Kumar whose Rajya Sabha term ends on April 2 was not given another term. Not long ago, when his party was an ally of the Congress, he had the tag of a ‘green MLA’ on account of his love for the environment. Now with the opposition claiming that the K-Rail project will lead to massive environmental damage, the party’s stand is awaited.
Recently, the party had taunted the CPI, when Kumar said the latter used its bargaining power to get a Rajya Sabha (his seat) and that it is keenly watching the CPI’s position on issues like K-Rail, the tweaking of the Lok Ayukta rules and the liquor policy.
Given the strong hold that Vijayan continues to have, any ally or any leader speaking up against him in Wednesday’s meeting seems unlikely.
–IANS