Date:13/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/13/stories/2006041303011200.htm

National

`We seek a vote for continuity'

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy have high stakes in the Assembly elections. They have to prove that they have what it takes to put the United Democratic Front (UDF) back in the saddle. The split in the Congress and the alliance with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) have not made their job easier. But Mr. Chennithala is confident . The UDF has got its act right for the first time in 16 years by beginning the race at the starting line, he said in an interview to Girish Menon. Excerpts:

What are the issues being highlighted by the UDF?

We are highlighting four major issues — development, democracy, social justice and continuity in governance.

The UDF Government has tried to usher in new development dynamics during its five years in power. The Global Investment Meet succeeded in setting up an investment climate in the State. Development under UDF rule has been with a human face. Even while promoting huge projects, the Government has tried to address the problems of the weaker sections.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) tried to derail all the initiatives of the UDF Government. Most of their agitations were politically motivated. In fact, the roots of these protests lie in the internal problems and schism in the CPI(M). The fight in this Assembly election is between pro-development and anti-development forces.

Democratic functioning has been the hallmark of the UDF's rule. The Government always sought to take the Opposition into confidence while implementing projects, holding back on those that were controversial, and addressing fundamental issues and apprehensions expressed by the people. We are seeking a vote for continuity in governance to enable the UDF to take forward its development agenda. We are seeking a positive vote vis-à-vis the negative politics of the Left.

The LDF has claimed in its manifesto that it would re-examine some projects such as Smart City. What is your reaction?

That is why we are seeking a vote for continuity. If you examine Kerala's record, it has had to pay the price for alternating between the UDF and the LDF. Many development projects were set back owing to the difference in perspective.

The CPI(M) claims to be a national party, but it has separate programmes for West Bengal and Kerala. Foreign direct investment is acceptable in Bengal, but the CPI(M)'s Kerala unit is opposed to it. The list is long. The Marxists lack clarity in their positions. The party's State leadership is divided.

What is the qualitative highlight of the UDF's development programme?

As I mentioned earlier, we have a positive approach. Even while implementing economic reforms, we are concentrating on the human aspect. While implementing huge development programmes, we are concerned about the conditions of the farmers, the weaker sections and pensioners. The UDF's formula to implement the Narendran Commission report on the Backward Class job reservations should be viewed in this context.

After being a bitter opponent of the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran), how do you justify electoral adjustments with it?

The UDF has always been an accreting force. In the past, we have taken in M.V. Raghavan of the CMP, K.R. Gauri of the JSS and the RSP(B). All these were done with the intention of bringing together the democratic forces under one umbrella. While working out an electoral adjustment with the DIC (K), we were guided mainly by the logic of preventing a split in the democratic votes.