THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State is beginning to get a better bargain from the Centre as it has become imperative for politicians to show results.

For years, Kerala complained that it was not getting its due share of assistance from the Centre. But as long as Congress rule was uninterrupted at the Centre, Kerala's cries fell on deaf ears.

Long time Chief Minister of the State, late E. K. Nayanar used to write frequently to the Centre highlighting the needs of the State. However, the Centre ignored most of the letters, and the Left used to cry foul. Even Governor's addresses to the Assembly during the LDF administration were full of criticism of the Centre.

The situation was no different during the UDF rule in the State also, except for the absence of long letters to the Centre. Congress politicians either did not care or failed to apply enough pressure at the Centre. Kerala got hardly any investments even when K. Karunakaran was the Union Minister for Industries.

A qualitative change took place with the BJP assuming power at the Centre. During visits to the State, then Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee asserted that his Government would not discriminate against Kerala just because Kerala had never elected any BJP man as a legislator. Much of the Kumarakom package he announced, however, did not materialise. But, then Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal redrew the picture. Kerala had little to complain about neglect by the Railways as long as he was the Minister. He also took the initiatives to get the State other projects also. The policy benefited Mr. Rajagopal as well. When he netted nearly 30 per cent of the votes from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency and came close to the Congress candidate in terms of votes, the Congress could not fail to take notice.

So, the Antony Government took pains to see that Central assistance to the State was not interrupted with change in Government at the Centre. Now, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is not sparing any effort to press the Centre for investments and assistance. As a result, he is getting pending projects such as expansion of the Kayamkulam Thermal Power Project and Vallarpadam International Transhipment Project going. For the first time, the Central team to assess floods arrived before the State submitted its memorandum.

The byelection to Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency and the forthcoming Assembly elections have added to the urgency of the matter, as far as Mr. Chandy is concerned. So, it was not without reason that he made a presentation about the poor financial position and other problems of the State at the Chandigarh conclave of his party.

According to Mr. Chandy, he had told the party leaders that the Government could not do enough for the farmers and traditional workers of the State because of financial stringency. The recommendations of the last two Finance Commissions did not do justice to the State. It was being penalised for the progress it had made on the health and educational front. This affected further investment for quality improvement and consolidation of the gains. The State could not even avail of loans because of the cap imposed by the Centre. It is reported that the Congress leaders and the Union Finance Minister have taken serious note of the Chief Minister's plea.

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