Kerala CM Vijayan's LDF govt kicks off campaign for a hat-trick after entering fourth year

Thiruvananthapuram: As it enters the last year of the second consecutive term, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala has already kicked off a campaign for a hat-trick, that too amidst many odd factors.

The ongoing month-long fourth anniversary celebrations of the government across the state is nothing but the launch of an effective campaign by projecting the government's achievements as the local body polls and the assembly polls are due to happen in a year.

The left-front could also unleash a whisper camping that it will come to power again.

Even when are a host of anti-incumbency factors, including the serious allegations against the Chief Minister's daughter, a key advantage the left camps see is a weak Opposition, especially the infights in the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

The key focus being given by CM Pinarayi Vijayan is infrastructure and industrial development by projecting the growth of start-ups in the state to the commissioning of Vizhinjam international seaport.

The state government also stakes claims over the fast developing NH widening works and setting up of smart roads under the smart city project.

Though the government's claims over social welfare initiatives are now on the backfoot owing to backlogs in paying social welfare pensions and turning down the plight of ASHA workers for a remuneration hike, the government is all likely to announce a hike regarding the remuneration of ASHA workers ahead of the elections. The backlog in social welfare pension of Rs 1,600 each to over 60 lakh beneficiaries is also being cleared.

Even when the state faced acute financial crunches, allegedly owing to the curbs in allocations by the Centre, the Pinarayi government has always managed to keep the show going.

The CM is also taking the lead in personally interacting with noted people from all walks of life and community leaders as part of the ongoing anniversary celebrations and thereby strengthening his rapport.

As Vijayan celebrated his government's anniversary on Tuesday by cutting cake, the Opposition Congress-led UDF observed a black day in the state.

"The overwhelming participation of people at the government's anniversary celebrations is a testimony for the fact that the LDF government will again come to power in Kerala," Vijayan said.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan accused that Kerala's public debt increased from Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in 2016 to Rs 6 lakh crore now. "At the time of financial crisis the government is celebrating its anniversary by spending public money."

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised that the left-front government was celebrating the anniversary of its mal-administration. While crores of money are being spent for anniversary celebrations, basic needs of the marginalised sections are being ignored, Chandrasekhar said.