LDF’s Kerala Protection March Witnesses Massive Participation

With thousands of people gathering at every point, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala launched the Kerala Samrakshana Yatra (Kerala Protection March). The march, which has two legs, is the part of LDF’s campaign against the BJP-led Centre’s misrule.

The Southern leg of the march started from Thiruvananthapuram on February 14, and Northern leg of the march started on February 16 from Kasargod. Southern leg, headed by the state secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, covers all the constituencies in Southern and central Kerala. The Northern leg, which is led by the Communist Party of India (CPI) state secretary Kanam Rajendhran, passes through the constituencies in Northern districts including Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram along with Palakkad and Thrissur.

The march with the slogan “Oust the BJP government; Save the country; Development, peace, social progress, Left front, People’s front,” campaigns against the anti-labour and anti-people policies of the Centre, highlighting unemployment, crisis in the agrarian sector and the damaging economic policies.

All the sections of the society including minorities, youth, students, women and working class have poured in at the spots where the public meetings are being held.

Unlike many other marches, Kerala Protection March is seeing participation from large chunks of backward classes and castes. The Left governments have always given more importance to the social and economic upliftment of the SC-ST communities in the state. Between 2006 and 2011, when VS Achuthanandhan-led LDF government was in power in the state, in Wayanad district alone, as many as 3,966 families had received pattayam (land ownership documents). A special package has been given by the current government to provide land and houses to the tribal community in the state, and construction of almost 5,000 houses has been completed so far.

Rs 1977 crore have been earmarked for the programme that is exclusively for the tribal communities in the state. Rs 785 crore of the total will be for the housing scheme and Rs 350 crore will be spent on the education of the tribal students too.

The southern leg of march had started from Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvananthapuram, which is close to Techno Park, country’s one of the largest IT hubs. Large number of IT professionals were present at the public gathering. After Thiruvananthapuram district, the march entered the Kollam district, touring through various constituencies. Massive participation of coir workers was seen in the district. The march today tours in Pathanamthitta district, where the Sabarimala temple is located.

BJP and RSS have been using the Sabarimala issue as a political tool for a while.

The Northern leg of the march, however, covered places including Kayyur and Karivellur, which have a glorious history of farmers’ movements. Covering the Kannur district, march will enter the Wayanad district today.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, other ministers and leaders from all the parties in the coalition front are addressing the public meetings and campaigns. Apart from CPI(M) and CPI, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationlist Congress Party, Congress (S), Loktantrik Janata Dal, indian National League, Janadhipatya Kerala Congress, Kerala Congress (B) etc. are the leading parties which have been the part of the ruling coalition.

The marches will converge in Thrissur on March 2.

Also read: LDF Enjoys Upper Hand, Wins 16 Out of 30 Seats in Kerala Local Body By-Elections