VS Achuthanandan | File PhotoFormer chief minister V.S.Achuthanandan's statement on the indefinite fast by the Opposition legislators in the Kerala assembly gives a much needed ammunition for the UDF and puts the government as well as the CM on the defensive.
Without naming names, the former chief minister expressed displeasure at the way the government has dealt with the agitating legislators. He also urged the government to chalk out a formula to end the stir by opposition lawmakers on the self-financing college fee issue.
Coming from the most senior member of the state legislature and the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), there is nothing wrong in the statement.
Without going into the merits of the agitation, the key issue here is the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government's open show of contempt for dissenting voices, whether it is the media or the opposition.
It doesn't bode well for any government to take an adamant stand against the opposition, no matter how weak their numbers are.
This is akin to the dictatorial style of functioning often charged against PM Modi by his detractors, which includes the CPM, which leads the LDF government in Kerala.
The other issue here is that this is the first open criticism of the state government from VS.
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Detractors of VS within the CPM may see red at this statement, which could be used as an ammunition by the opposition when the assembly meets Monday.
But if saner counsel prevails, it would do better for the Pinarayi-led government to give a thought to the veteran's leader's comments on the issue.
VS has just urged the government to find a solution to end the agitation by opposition legislators.
There is no point in ignoring any protests in a democracy just by pointing to the weak headcount that backs it.
That sort of an approach could easily be dubbed as a fascist tendency, which the CPM is so keen to fight tooth and nail.
