Kerala: A Significant Victory

THE Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has been re-elected to office with a big mandate. This is a significant election in many respects.The first significant aspect of the election is that this is the first time after 1977 that an incumbent government has been re-elected in Kerala.No Left-led government previous to the present one has been re-elected in the state. The first ministry to be formed by the Communist Party in Kerala was in 1957. It was the first elected government after the establishment of the modern State of Kerala and was led by E M S Namboodiripad.

The Scandal that is the Modi Government

THE Covid-19 tragedy that is unfolding in India is of truly epic proportions. There is the scandal of people dying because of lack of oxygen in hospitals; there is the scandal of lack of hospital beds and medicines; there is the scandal of deaths due to Covid being covered up and there is the scandal of the vaccine shortage and profiteering sanctioned by the government.

The Vishwaguru that Failed

The Modi-Shah duo are criminally responsible for the havoc caused by the Second WaveTHE Covid-19 cases crossed over 2,34,000 on April 17, the very day Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Asansol, West Bengal, where he congratulated the people for coming in large numbers and declared that he had not seen such crowds in a rally before. This callous politics endangering the lives of thousands of people exemplifies the criminal responsibility of the Modi-Shah duo for the havoc caused by the raging pandemic.

Subverting the Election Commission

THE subversion of constitutional bodies under the Modi regime is proceeding apace. Nothing exemplifies this more than what has happened to the Election Commission of India (EC).The EC’s stand on the elections for three vacant seats from Kerala in the Rajya Sabha has brought out the stark fact that the Commission is bending to the will of the Modi government.

Tackle Second Wave: Protect People’s Health & Livelihoods

WITH the second wave of the Covid-19 infection unfolding, India is facing a calamitous situation. April 4 saw the breeching of the 100,000 mark (one lakh) in daily cases with 103,709 cases recorded.

Electoral Bonds: Evading the Real Issue

THE Supreme Court has declined to stay the issuance of electoral bonds in its current tranche from April 1 to 10. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO, had made an urgent plea that the issuance of bonds meant for the four state assembly elections be stayed.The Court noted that the scheme has operated for the past three years without impediments and certain safeguards have been put in. These are unconvincing reasons. The whole point is that the scheme itself is an opaque way of funding political parties and it is in-built to favour the ruling party.

Serving American Interests

THE visit of the US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, to India barely two months after the Biden administration took office indicates the importance the United States attributes to India as a defence partner and ally.Austin was in Japan and South Korea – both close military and strategic allies of the US in Asia – before coming to India. India being next in his itinerary indicates that the Pentagon views India as of the same status as Japan and South Korea. Lloyd underlined this importance during his visit when he described the India-US partnership as a “central pillar” of American poli

Fight This National Sell-Off

AROUND a million bank employees and officers went on a two-day strike on March 15 and 16 all over the country against the privatisation of public sector banks.

The Unholy Trinity in Kerala elections

THE Kerala Assembly elections are being fought by three alliances – the CPI(M)-led LDF, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP-led NDA. Both the Congress and the BJP have been targeting the LDF government with a string of false allegations which began with the gold smuggling case in July last year. Now there is a third party in the electoral fray.

Challenges in the Forthcoming Assembly Elections

THE schedule for the assembly elections in Assam, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Kerala and the union territory of Puducherry has been announced. It stretches from March 27 to April 29.These elections have their own importance for each state, given the political background specific to that state. However, taken together, they have a wider national significance.

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Peoples Democracy

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