CPI(M) in Kerala perceives cracks in Opposition UDF over Centre’s ‘financial embargo’ on State
The Hindu
CPI(M) alleges Centre's "financial embargo" on Kerala has created political fissures in UDF. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty had evinced interest to cooperate with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) to wrest what the Centre financially owed Kerala and also fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government’s “economically stifling trespasses” on fiscal federalism.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has perceived that the Central Government’s “financial embargo” on Kerala has created political fissures in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition.
Speaking to journalists in Thiruvananthapuram on December 15 (Friday), CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan said Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty had evinced interest to cooperate with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) to wrest what the Centre financially owed Kerala and also fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government’s “economically stifling trespasses” on fiscal federalism.
He said the Congress leadership was jittered that the IUML had turned its back on its “false claim” that the LDF’s financial mismanagement and reckless borrowing had precipitated the financial crisis.
Mr. Govindan said more UDF leaders would adopt Mr. Kunhalikutty’s tack. For one, Congress leader T.N. Prathapan, MP, had given notice for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, echoing the LDF’s line on Kerala’s financial situation.
He said the Congress felt “increasingly isolated” in the UDF. Allies and the public had isolated the Congress for unthinkingly parroting the BJP’s line that the LDF was to blame for the fiscal crisis, while remaining suspiciously silent on the ₹64,000 crore the Centre owed the State under various heads of accounts.
Mr. Govindan said the fear of estrangement from the electorate had prompted Opposition MPs from Kerala to make a token political gesture of dissent with the BJP’s “anti-federal fiscal line” by belatedly requesting the Centre to release the funds it owed the State and hike Kerala’s borrowing limit.
He said the Congress and the BJP’s “joint attempt” to build a new edifice of lies against the government failed, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) hastily withdrawing its summons against the KIIFB and former Finance Minister Thomas Isaac.
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