Fronts adopt defensive tactics in Thrissur

By T. Ramavarman

THRISSUR, APRIL 23.All the three major fronts which have locked horns over the Assembly polls find themselves on the defensive in the district as their campaigning is all set to enter the post- nomination phase.

If it is the disgraceful infighting for seats in the Congress that makes the UDF go on the defensive, for the BJP-led NDA, it is the Tehelka expose and for the LDF, the acute economic crisis of the State. And the candidates of the three fronts are now being forced to devote much time giving some convincing explanations for their respective weak points on their vote mobilisation drives.

The campaigns are naturally focused on highlighting the blemishes of one's opponents and trying to project the merits of the party one belongs to.

Interestingly, both the BJP and the Congress would like the campaign to be confined to local issues as they find it embarrassing to dwell upon certain State-level and national issues. The CPI(M), on the other hand, wants the election debates to be focused on national and State-level political issues, for discussions on local development may stray into the State's economic crisis.

The UDF had started its election preparations early this year itself by harping on the acute economic crisis and the other numerous failures of the Government.

The collapse of the agriculture sector in the State, the stagnation in the industrial sector, the mess and corruption in the education sector, the liquor mafia's reign, the blow to the morale of the administrative and police force etc. are the ammunition of the Congress against the five-year rule of the LDF. The political murders in Kannur and other districts and the latest Nadapuram riots are also weapons for the UDF to use against the LDF.

The `Kerala Mochana Yatra' led by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. A.K. Antony, was deemed as the launching pad of the UDF's election campaign and the rousing receptions it had received across the State were projected as indicative of the extreme discontent prevailing in the State against the LDF regime.

But the wrangling over seats in the Congress and the consequent paralysis of the organisational machinery of the party have pushed the UDF as a whole from an offensive position into a defensive one. The front leaders are now finding it difficult to give a reassuring answer to the people's question how, when the State is passing through such a serious crisis, they could indulge in such self-defeating street battles over silly issues like the allocation of one or two seats?

Tehelka aftermath

Notwithstanding its communal stigma, the BJP too was slowly gaining some respectability in the State after the assumption of power by the BJP-led Government at the Centre and because of the capacity of its State leadership to project it as a combative opposition against the LDF Government. It also had the advantage of being an untested party in the State.

The `Kerala Parivarthana Yatra' (march for transforming Kerala) led by the BJP's energetic State president, Mr. C.K. Padmanabhan, had fuelled the hopes of party workers that they would be able to open their account in the Assembly this time, in the early phase of the yatra.

The totally unexpected Tehelka expose seems to have had a nerve- shattering effect on the party leadership and cadre who are now forced to answer many unpleasant questions regarding the issue.

The expose tarnished the image of the BJP as a corruption-free party and it lost the high moral ground it tried to occupy.

Initially, the BJP leaders in the State tried to dismiss the Tehelka expose as part of a high-level conspiracy involving the leaders of the Opposition and foreign forces. Now, they attempt to gloss over the issue by saying that the BJP would take strong action against those who have been found guilty in the case.

Both these arguments seem to have failed to convince voters.

Economic crisis

The CPI(M) and the LDF on their part hoped that their campaigns and agitations against the Central policies would contain the frustration of the people over the acute stagnation that has gripped all sectors of the State's economy. Their strategy was to pass the buck for the economic crisis to the Centre and to project the People's Plan Campaign' as an alternative to the Central policies.

However, this tactic seems to have failed to enthuse the voters. In the first place, the `People's Plan Campaign was unable to make any visible impact on the severe financial problems of the State. Problems like the crash in prices of agriculture produce including coconut and rubber and the stagnation in commercial activities are too severe to be overcome by a dharna or rail- blockade against the Centre, or even by some ideological indoctrination.

Secondly, the LDF leaders are finding it difficult to give a convincing answer to the question that if the LDF thinks that a State Government can do only little to resolve the present economic problems in the State, then what is the point in bringing it back to power? A considerable section of the electorate seems to be thinking that a change of guard in the State Government alone can unleash the productive forces which were stifled during the LDF regime.

Moreover, in the absence of a leader with the political skills of the late EMS Namboodiripad, the LDF is finding it difficult to present a cohesive position on many issues like the understanding with the INL or the decision to support Mr. Cheriyan Philip.

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