The political opposition in Kerala has been dropping broad hints about taking a re-look at the UDF government's liquor policy.
Even the faintest of such hints brings a soothing wave of exhilaration rushing into the hearts of many in God's own country.
The ignominy of queuing up before a Beverages corporation outlet for their daily dose of bliss is not something they relish.
But read the fine print. None of the opposition leaders are saying unequivocally that their party will revoke the ban if they come to power. They are all hedging.
“If the LDF comes to power, it will be decided whether a change in liquor policy is required or not." That is what CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan said Wednesday.
“The LDF’s policy is abstinence, not prohibition,” CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran told Onmanorama on Monday.
At the other end of the political spectrum, BJP state chief Kummanam Rajasekharan had said the same thing: “It is not total prohibition that is needed. It has failed.” But there is no concrete assertion that the BJP will revoke the ban.
The fact is that the UDF's ban did not come out of a vacuum. There was a sizeable constituency of people, especially women, who wanted the ban. They were the real victims of alcohol addiction among Keralites.
The LDF and the BJP recognise the power of this vote bank and do not want to rub it the wrong way.
Because the cookie-cutting of Kerala's voters is still on, and an early assertion on revoking the ban would be playing into the UDF's hands.
Keralites waiting for that spirit-ual bliss will have to wait a lot longer. No one is going to really, unequivocally say that they will revoke the liquor ban – till they are elected to power. But they want your votes, hence the broad hints.
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