LDF team to Bengal unlikely before Feb. 23

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 18. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) may not be able to send its team to West Bengal to study self- financing professional colleges there before the LDF State committee meeting slated for February 23.

The LDF State committee may have to opt for a kind of `distance education' if it wants an immediate decision on the demand for sanctioning self-financing professional colleges in the private sector in the State. Alternatively, it can decide to wait till a team is able to visit Bengal. Whichever is the case, the LDF committee would certainly take up the issue for discussion at its coming meeting.

The Kerala Congress(J) leader and Education Minister, Mr. P.J. Joseph, has got a shot in the arm following reports that the Bengal Government has decided to sanction 100 new private professional colleges in the State. This would also strengthen the case of those in the LDF who hold the view that Mr. Joseph's stand deserves to be considered seriously.

There seems to be divergence in the perceptions of CPI(M) leaders on the subject. The party State secretary, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, has publicly stated that there is no question of sanctioning private self-financing professional colleges. However, the normally cautious CPI(M) politburo member and LDF convener, Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, has also adopted a softer line. He has gone so far as to state that the CPI(M) is not against the idea, but the party is keen that a consensus should be evolved involving the students and youth who had organised struggles against self- financing colleges.

The Chief Minister, Mr. E.K. Nayanar, is also favourably inclined towards the idea of sanctioning private self- financing professional colleges and is reported to have shared his mind with some senior LDF leaders.

Although Mr. Nayanar gave no firm assurance to the Bishops' delegation that called on him to press the demand, he made it known that the issue would receive the seriousness it deserves.

The likely delay in the LDF team's departure to Bengal is not on account of keenness on the part of the leaders to do so. It is more on account of the leaders' preoccupations with party work.

The RSP State committee, for instance, is meeting on February 19 and 20, and it would not be possible for the party to spare any senior leader during the two days. It would also not be possible to have a high-level visit to Bengal without confirming the convenience of the Bengal Government and the political leadership there. All this cannot but take some time.

The LDF would, of course, have to bear some public ridicule over its decision to send a team to Bengal. But given the strident manner in which the CPI(M) has opposed privatisation of professional education, its attempts to have some hard evidence before striking in a new direction are quite understandable.

Those in the LDF who are not opposed to private professional colleges being sanctioned subject to stiff regulations are also hamstrung by the manner in which the whole proposal was sought to be pushed through bypassing the LDF leadership. Hence the insistence on discussions and fact-finding before arriving at any decision.

Now that the KC(J) has lowered its banner of rebellion, the LDF leadership can hope to find a consensus on the subject. The KC(J) working committee has authorised Mr. Joseph to take appropriate decision on the twin issue of self-financing engineering colleges and unification of the KC(J) with Kerala Congress(M). As of now, he does not seem to be rushing into any decision that would jeopardise the ruling LDF's much-acclaimed cohesion. That is good tiding for the front leadership.

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Section  : Southern States
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