2016 was a year that shocked Kerala
For Kerala, 2016 was full of surprises and shocks. Politically, the state witnessed many ups and downs. In the Assembly election held in May, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) routed the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) by 91-47.
BJP made a historic entry into the Kerala Assembly after former Union minister O Rajagopal was elected from Nemom constituency. Rajagopal’s victory disillusioned both Congress and the CPM, as it signalled that BJP would emerge as the third front in the future, changing the power equations in the state.
The mega victory of LDF in the election helped Pinarayi Vijayan become CM and consolidate his grip on the party. Though elected from Malampuzha with a thumping majority, his bête noire, 92-year-old VS Achuthanandan, had to settle for the minor post of chairman of administrative reforms with cabinet rank.
VS's feeble protests didn’t trigger much support either in the CPM or in the public. For him, 2016 was a year of disillusion and dismay. He has only one consolation - he was crowned the Fidel Castro of Kerala by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, while announcing the party's decision to nominate Vijayan as CM on May 21.
Similarly, former CM Oommen Chandy also stepped out of the corridors of power after the humiliating performance of the Congress in the election. He opted out of becoming the Leader of the Opposition as most of his loyalists lost in the poll.
Ramesh Chennithala’s entry as Leader of the Opposition marginalised Chandy’s role in Kerala politics. Though he is heading the most powerful faction in the Congress, he has been marginalised by Chennithala and PCC chief VM Sudheeran. Like VS, Chandy is cooling his legs, waiting for a better time and nursing his political injures.
Among the leaders, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan and CM Vijayan emerged as the most powerful in the state. Their rise in power was marked with the firm voice they speak in.
Kummanam, 63, who was earlier known as the promoter of Hindu pride, started consolidating his mass base after he was nominated by the BJP to head the party in the state.
His strategies to widen the base of BJP in the state helped the party make an impressive performance in the Assembly election. He played his cards well and emerged as a strong critic of the government with timely comments when Congress leaders were out of focus.
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| Oommen Chandy stepped out of the corridors of power after the humiliating performance of the Congress in the Assembly election. (Photo: India Today) |
Vijayan fitted in his new role with his usual style. He distanced himself from the media and indicated that his priorities were different from maintaining good PR. After taking charge, he was more like a headmaster disciplining secretariat officials who are strong Left sympathisers.
He told them to ensure punctuality in office and demanded timely delivery from them. His 100 days were marked with efficiency and shrewdness. But he faced a major jolt when industries minister EP Jayarajan, a strong loyalist, resigned in the wake of charges of nepotism over the appointment of his sister-in law’s son, Sudheer Nambiar, as managing director in Kerala State Industries Enterprises. Jayarajan’s resignation exposed infighting among the Kannur leaders of CPM.
Maoist killings and slapping of UAPA against human rights activists dragged the CM into controversies. When two Maoists were killed in Nilambur forests in an encounter, human rights activists viewed it as fake encounters and CPI, the major coalition partner in the LDF government, disapproved of it with rejoinders.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran criticised the government and police for killing two Maoist leaders, Kuupuraj and Ajitha, who were sick. After a week, the state police slapped the UAPA against three human rights activists for aiding the Maoists and another writer over a Facebook post.
When the central leadership of CPM intervened, the police deleted the UAPA charges. It seems that Vijayan is paying a high price for holding the home portfolio in his government.
Kerala was shocked over three major events in 2016. April was the cruellest month of all. On April 10, 111 people were killed and another 350 were injured with severe burns in a firecracker explosion at Puttingal temple in Kollam district.
The temple didn’t have permission to conduct competitive fire display as part of its annual festival. The crackers and dynamites kept in the concrete storeroom caught fire during the fireworks display, killing many instantly.
Later, the Kerala High Court banned fire displays at public places after sunset. The tragedy was an eye-opener as it exposed the corrupt practices in handling explosives in the state.
Jisha, a 29-year-old Dalit law student, was found brutally raped and murdered on April 28 at her home in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district. Initially, the police covered up her murder and cremated the body in haste.
Later, her classmates found that she was brutally raped and murdered. Her murder and cover-up put then Chandy government under shadow of doubt. The issue triggered a debate on social media about the safety of women under the Chandy government.
In fact, the Jisha murder influenced women voters to vote for LDF. Ameer-ul-Islam, 24, an Assamese migrant labourer, was arrested after CM Vijayan directed the police to constitute a new investigation team.
Kerala again had a shock when 21 people - 17 from the Muslim-dominated Padanna village in Kasargod district and four from Palakad - joined the Islamic State and vanished to Afghanistan. Their vanishing act and subsequent police investigation revealed that sleeper cells were recruiting educated youth for the ISIS from the state.
The police came to know about the ISIS sleeper cell activities only after the families informed the police voluntarily and registered complaints for missing persons. Even today, intelligence agencies have no clue about their whereabouts.
Their disappearance revealed that several ultra-Islamic groups are actively involved in promoting the ISIS in Kerala.
Kerala has, however, welcomed 2017 with good cheer. Though demonetisation has crippled the economy of the state, people are looking forward with hope.