The political scene in Kerala rarely witnesses horse-trading as has been observed in some other states. Though Kerala had its tryst with unstable governments, that is no longer the case, at least since the early 1980s.
Interestingly, poaching of newly elected legislators was not resorted to by parties or fronts that were short of majority. The first such instance was in 1965. After the election results were declared, the leading front won 59 seats while it had to secure 67 seats for a majority – just eight seats short. There were more than 10 independents who had been elected. It seemed easy to ensure their support and come to power.
But this was Kerala. Nobody attempted to influence the independents or parties belonging to other fronts. No front approached the governor claiming majority and seeking to form the government. Tired of waiting, the governor finally dissolved the Assembly. It had not met even for a single day.
When parties having barely five MLAs are trying to form a government elsewhere in India, the situation of 1965 should be written in golden letters and prove to be a lesson for the new generation of politicians.
A flashback
The R Sankar ministry had fallen and there was political uncertainty in Kerala. The election to the third Kerala Assembly was held on March 4, 1965. There were three major contestants. While CPM, Muslim League and SSP were fighting on one platform, Congress was in the fray alone. The third front comprised CPI, Kerala Congress and RSP.
There were 133 seats up for grabs. When the results came out, Congress was the biggest party with 36 seats. CPM’s tally was 40, but it included several independents whom the party had supported. Kerala Congress had 23 elected members. The CPM-led front had a total of 59 seats, which included the Muslim League’s six. It needed eight more seats to come to power. The magic figure of 67 could be reached by some coaxing, but the CPM led by E M S Namboodiripad was not tempted.
Left with no other option, governor V V Giri recommended the dissolution of the Assembly. This was the first time in the history of Independent India that an elected House was dissolved even without meeting for a single day. Most of the contestants who won during the elections of 1965 had been members of the Assembly earlier. Several others won elections held later. However, there were 25 victorious candidates who were elected for the first time in 1965. Sadly, they were never lucky to be MLAs ever again.
After the Assembly was dissolved, president’s rule was imposed in Kerala on March 24, 1965. Later, elections were held again in 1967 which led to the formation of the government led by EMS. It had seven parties which joined together to form a front – CPM, CPI, Muslim League, RSP, SSP, KTP and KSP. Till this government took charge, the state witnessed president’s rule, lasting 712 days. This was the longest period of president’s rule in Kerala.
The ministry led by EMS fell after two-and-a-half years. However, that is another story.
Kerala has maintained its unblemished record in avoiding horse-trading ever since. Even when no front gained majority, deals and unethical political practices have had no place in the state. A situation which could have been a deviation arose when LDF launched a covert move to influence K M Mani offering him the chief minister’s post. However, neither LDF nor Mani has openly admitted to having held talks in this regard.
Read: Latest Kerala News | Dr Kafeel Khan, target of UP admin, pained at Nipah deaths
