UDF government already falling apart, says M.V. Jayarajan

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CPI(M) State committee member M.V. Jayarajan has criticised the United Democratic Front (UDF) government, saying it was no longer functioning as a united team and that Congress infighting, which traditionally surfaced towards the end of UDF governments, had begun at the very start of the present tenure.

“The UDF team does not exist now. It has fallen apart. There is trouble right from the outset,” he said. Referring to UDF leader Adoor Prakash’s observation that there was no functioning UDF team, Mr. Jayarajan said it was “absolutely correct.”

He alleged that the government was failing to focus on people’s problems, including preventing power outages, filling vacant doctor posts, supplying medicines to hospitals and ensuring their availability and distribution. He also criticised the handling of the school games in Thrissur, saying adequate arrangements should have included the police, Fire and Rescue Services, ambulances and medical teams.

Mr. Jayarajan said the previous LDF government had made such arrangements at major sporting events, but alleged that during the recent incident there was no one to take the injured children to hospital. He criticised the Education Minister for seeking an official report only two days later and questioned the district administration’s response.

He alleged that the police and Fire and Rescue Services had not been formally informed about the event and said even the local Thrissur Corporation councillor had reportedly been informed only the previous night. The Congress-ruled corporation, he said, had also claimed that it had not been properly informed.

Mr. Jayarajan also criticised police action during an incident at a university hostel in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that the police broke open the hostel gate and assaulted students, causing injuries to their hands, legs and heads.

Mr. Jayarajan further alleged that firecrackers or incendiary objects and soda bottles were thrown at the hostel around 7.45 p.m., causing a fire and prompting the Fire and Rescue Services to intervene. Later, he said, Youth Congress protesters returned and threw bricks and stones at the hostel.

He alleged that the police stood and watched the incidents unfold. He questioned whether the police had allowed the hostel gate to be broken open and said the incident required wider scrutiny.

Comparing the incident with a Delhi protest against examination paper leaks, Mr. Jayarajan alleged that while the BJP-led Centre had used pellet guns against protesters, the UDF government was pursuing “student hunting” and encouraging unrest by joining hands with communal forces.

He accused the UDF of pursuing contradictory political strategies, alleging that it was cooperating with Jamaat-e-Islami while simultaneously having a political understanding with the BJP.

He alleged that the BJP’s agenda was being implemented in Kerala under the leadership of IUML Ministers.

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