In a shrewd political move, Kerala’s Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) is enthusiastically embracing recent praise from Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. This commendation, highlighting Kerala’s exceptional standing in the physical quality of life index, is being used to directly challenge the local Congress leadership’s narrative about the state’s development.
V. Sivankutty, a key CPI(M) State committee member and General Education Minister, publicly expressed gratitude to Mr. Gowda, a fellow Congress leader, for “speaking the truth” about Kerala’s progress. Minister Sivankutty pointed out that Mr. Gowda’s glowing remarks about Kerala’s “stellar achievements” starkly contradict the Opposition’s “disheartening narrative” concerning the state’s development over the past nine years under Left Democratic Front (LDF) rule.
During an “MP’s merit awards” event organized by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal in Alappuzha last week, Mr. Gowda delivered a powerful statement: “When human resources are considered the most essential resource and human development the most valued asset, Kerala stands as number one. Kerala leads the country in healthcare, education, and overall human development. This contrasts sharply with states like Gujarat, which rank among the lowest. Kerala truly serves as a shining example for the entire nation.”
For the CPI(M), it was particularly satisfying that these significant observations came from Mr. Gowda at a public event hosted by Mr. Venugopal. Both Mr. Venugopal and Kerala Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan are known as fierce critics of the LDF government within the state Congress. It’s worth noting that national Congress leaders have generally avoided commenting on state-level politics, especially given that the broader Congress-led INDIA bloc views the CPI(M) as a political ally.
The Congress in Kerala has frequently boycotted government-sponsored development conferences, dismissing them as mere election stunts and politically motivated campaigns funded by taxpayer money from the state’s strained treasury. For example, Mr. Venugopal recently criticized the Global Ayyappa Sanghamam, an event ostensibly for Sabarimala’s development, as an election-year tactic designed to attract Hindu voters. He accused the government of hypocrisy, shedding “crocodile tears” after its perceived transgressions against Sabarimala traditions and the Ayyappa faith during the 2018 Save Sabarimala campaign.
In response, the CPI(M)’s social media teams have swiftly capitalized on Mr. Gowda’s statements to counter the Congress leadership’s criticisms. The CPI(M) has also accused the Congress of deliberately ignoring development efforts and abstaining from Kerala’s protests against the Central government’s alleged infringements on fiscal federalism. These alleged infringements include reductions in the state’s share of divisible taxes, lowered borrowing limits, and cuts to allocations for grain, kerosene, healthcare, and social welfare programs.