The Hindu : Kerala News : Chandy to visit problem areas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Chandy to visit problem areas

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 14. The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, will visit a number of problem areas of the State in the coming days.

The Chief Minister told The Hindu that he would go to Padre village in Kasaragod district and nearby places on December 23 where health of the people had reportedly been affected by use of the pesticide, endosulfan, by the State-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala. He had earlier visited Wayanad, which was facing a crisis in agriculture.

Mr. Chandy said that the success of the mass contact programme had given him confidence. "It was a great experience to me. I could learn about complaints of the people and the impediments before them in solving them."

He said that it was mostly the mass contact programme that prompted him to focus on the poorest of the poor. He would be attending to their unsolved problems in the coming days though the results might not translate into a major gain for the State as such.

Review

A State-wide review of the results of the programme was under way, and about 45 per cent of the petitions were found to have been disposed in favour of the petitioners so far.

The Chief Minister said he has support from all sides - colleagues, officials and others - for his initiatives. He had also full support of the party despite all the factionalism that is in the air.

Jacob's charge

On the criticisms raised by the Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader, T. M. Jacob, he said that it was only natural for him to criticise the Government as he had not been included in the Cabinet while being in the United Democratic Front (UDF). Any constructive criticism from their part or others would be heeded.

Replying to a question, Mr. Chandy said that he was not in favour of restricting ministerships to UDF constituents who have a minimum number of members in the Assembly in future. Some, important leaders would have to be included in the Ministry even if their parties do not have much representation in the House.

He recalled that the people had voted for the UDF in the last Assembly elections, pained by the performance of the LDF Government, which had ruined the finances and development of the State and failed to maintain law and order. "The UDF victory was one beyond its strength. People had high hopes.

They voted against the UDF in the Parliament elections this year because the Government could not convince the people that it had risen to their expectations."

He recalled that the Antony Government had spearheaded a development agenda. However, the Opposition deliberately stalled it alleging corruption and by resorting to violent agitations. So, the Government could not proceed fast. Though many things were done, the message did not reach the people.

Infighting

The infighting in the Congress and the Front also affected the prospects. However, it was not a political victory for the LDF, as they did not get any additional votes. The UDF supporters just did not vote.

Asked whether the Opposition was not successfully carrying on with their campaign against the Government again tarnishing its image, the Chief Minister said that the Opposition would not be able to hide the truth from the people for long.

In case of the Kunhalikutty issue, it was the police under the LDF Government that had investigated the case and found that Mr. Kunhalikutty was not guilty.

The chargesheet in the case was filed accordingly. Now what is the point in agitating against the failings of the LDF Government, he asked.

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