Officials to tour BJP-ruled MP to study Indore sanitation model
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The move comes months ahead of the local body elections, where the govt's performance on civic issues is expected to be a major campaign theme.
A delegation led by local self govt special secretary T V Anupama will visit Indore from July 8 to 10 to study the city's solid waste management practices and sanitation systems. The visit is based on the city's consistent record as the country's cleanest under the Swachh Survekshan rankings.
A govt order approving the visit was issued on July 2.
This is not the first time that a CPM-led govt in Kerala is turning to BJP-governed states for insights into administrative systems. In 2022, a team led by then chief secretary V P Joy visited Gujarat from April 27 to 29 to study its real-time e-governance dashboard and described the Gujarat model as "remarkable".
The latest visit, also coinciding with the chief minister's current trip to the US for follow-up treatment, has once again brought focus to the LDF govt's approach of borrowing governance models from states it has traditionally criticised.
It has also reignited political discussions on the CPM's shifting stance on engaging with BJP-ruled states.
Back in 2013, the party took a sharp position against even symbolic engagements with BJP leaders. When then labour minister Shibu Baby John met the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad to discuss labour sector practices, CPM demanded that chief minister Oommen Chandy clarify the govt's position.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Pinarayi Vijayan, then CPM state secretary, was vocal in stating that there was "nothing in Gujarat's labour sector Kerala needs to learn.
" The party even demanded Shibu's resignation.
In contrast, the current official visit to Indore is being undertaken without much political commentary from the CPM, though it comes at a time when the state's own waste management record has been severely criticised. The Brahmapuram fire incident in 2023, which choked Kochi with toxic smoke for days, prompted widespread public outrage and legal scrutiny, exposing serious flaws in Kerala's waste handling infrastructure.
"With the local body polls nearing, civic issues like garbage management, sanitation and public health are expected to dominate public discourse. The Indore visit, while aimed at adopting best practices, may also be viewed through the lens of political messaging and damage control," a senior official in the department said on conditions of anonymity.
While officials maintain that there is no contradiction in studying successful models regardless of which party governs a state, political observers say such visits inevitably draw attention when past statements and current actions appear misaligned. The key question, however, remains whether these study tours will translate into meaningful reforms on the ground or remain symbolic gestures without follow-through, as happened with the 2022 Gujarat tour.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
15 minutes ago
- The Wire
Amid Language Debate, CJI Gavai Says Studying in Mother Tongue Helps in Better Understanding of Subject
Parties such as the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have accused the BJP and its allies of undermining the Marathi language. New Delhi: Citing his own example, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Sunday (July 6) said that studying in one's mother tongue helps in understanding subjects better and also building strong values that stays for the rest of the life. CJI Gavai's comments come at a time when opposition parties in Maharashtra have fiercely opposed the government resolution (GR) introduced by the BJP-led government in April, which mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language in classes 1 to 5. Following opposition, a new GR in June allowed students to opt for another language besides Hindi, provided at least 20 students chose that language. But later, the government rescinded this GR as well on June 29. Parties such as the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Shiv Sena (UBT)) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which had accused the BJP and its allies of undermining the Marathi language, have celebrated the government move to take back the resolution as a victory. 'Studying in Marathi medium was not a handicap, it kept me grounded. This school and my teachers have played a significant role in whatever position I have reached today and the education and values I received gave direction to my life. My journey in public speaking began on this stage,' said CJI Gavai on Sunday while addressing a felicitation function at his old school at Girgaon in south Mumbai, reported Indian Express. 'I gained confidence through elocution competitions and cultural programmes. I am what I am today because of these opportunities. I studied in Marathi medium. Studying in one's mother tongue helps in better understanding of the subjects and also instils strong values and they remain with you for life,' he added. Before his speech, CJI Gavai said that he was confused whether to speak in Marathi or English. 'Should I speak in Marathi? Will everyone understand? Alright. It's going on in Maharashtra right now…' he had said before continuing the rest of the speech in Marathi. A day before CJI Gavai's statement, the state government's reversal on the National Education Policy 2020's third-language provision was mocked by the Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray at a public event where the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and MNS supremo shared the stage after two decades. Carrying forward their family legacy of promoting Marathi asmita (pride), they criticised the BJP and its leaders, accusing them of attempting to divide the state on linguistic grounds. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
NDTV
17 minutes ago
- NDTV
'Spy' Jyoti Malhotra Was Kerala Government's Guest In Tourism Campaign
Jyoti Malhotra, the travel vlogger from Haryana's Sirsa arrested on espionage charges, was the Kerala government's guest in a campaign to promote tourism and visited the southern state during its influencer outreach initiative. According to a Mathrubhumi report, a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that the Kerala government funded the trip of 41 influencers chosen to promote the southern state as a global tourist destination. The state government paid for their travel, accommodation and food. It roped in a private agency to help them with shooting videos during their stay. Among these 41 influencers was Jyoti Malhotra. With the revelation prompting opposition parties to target the state government, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas said Jyoti Malhotra was invited along with other influencers to promote Kerala. "This was part of a larger influencer campaign aimed at promoting Kerala. Everything was done transparently and in good faith," he said. "This is not a government that facilitates espionage. The media must understand how government systems work. No one could have foreseen this." He said the allegations being made against the state government over inviting her are "pure propaganda" and that the state government "would never knowingly invite a spy". Opposition parties, including the Congress and the BJP, have targeted the Left Front government, questioning why the backgrounds of influencers invited for the campaign were not properly checked before reaching out to them. "RTI reveals Pakistani spy Jyoti Malhotra visited Kerala on Left government invite & was state guest in a sense courtesy Tourism Dept. So Bharat Mata is blocked and Pak Spies are given RED CARPET by Left? Tourism Minister Mohammad Riyas is son in law of Vijayan. He should be sacked.. and investigated," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a post on X. During her stay in Kerala, Jyoti Malhotra visited Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Munnar, and Thiruvananthapuram. She shot vlogs on Theyyam performances and captured scenic locations. These vlogs were shared on her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, and other social media platforms. The 33-year-old vlogger had visited the state before the allegations of spying surfaced. She was arrested in May 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Following her arrest, Haryana Police said Pakistani intelligence agencies were grooming her as an asset. A video of the YouTuber shopping in Lahore while being surrounded by men armed with AK-47 rifles indicated the kind of security and access she enjoyed in Pakistan, very unlike just another vlogger. Agencies are now investigating whether her videos may have served as a cover for gathering intelligence. Jyoti Malhotra, police have found, also visited Pakistan shortly before the terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 innocents dead.
NDTV
18 minutes ago
- NDTV
EPS To Kick Off 2026 Poll Campaign Today, Hopes To Revive AIADMK's Fortunes
Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) would launch his statewide campaign this evening from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district - a traditional AIADMK stronghold in the western region of the state. The campaign is expected to cover all 234 constituencies, with the tagline "Protecting People and Redeeming Tamil Nadu." EPS, who will address a public rally this evening, is expected to highlight what he calls the "failures and unfulfilled promises" of the ruling DMK government. His campaign will also focus on local issues in each constituency, in addition to statewide concerns such as law and order, women's safety, and the growing drug menace. This campaign is widely seen as a make-or-break moment for the AIADMK, which has suffered three successive election defeats since the death of its charismatic leader J Jayalalithaa in 2016. The party's decline began under the dual leadership of EPS and O Panneerselvam (OPS) and has continued even after EPS emerged as the sole leader. After walking out of its alliance with the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls - where both parties had a bad luck as the DMK-led alliance swept the state - the AIADMK has cautiously revived its ties with the saffron party. However, the alliance appears fragile, with little ground-level synergy and scepticism among cadres. One of the key challenges for EPS is the lack of strong allies, aside from the BJP, which itself holds minimal sway in Tamil Nadu. The entry of actor Vijay's Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) has further complicated the political arithmetic. Vijay has categorically ruled out any alliance with the BJP directly or indirectly, keeping the AIADMK at arm's length. Vijay's recent announcement as TVK's Chief Ministerial candidate and his plans to tour the state from September to December, along with a parallel membership drive, signal his intent to become a serious contender. Drawing comparisons with legends like CN Annadurai and MG Ramachandran, Vijay aims to replicate their trajectory from cinema to the Chief Minister's chair. As speculation brews over potential political realignments, a few key questions remain unanswered: Will AIADMK eventually sever ties with BJP to woo Vijay's TVK? Will Vijay consider an alliance as a dominant player, or is he eyeing a solo march to Fort St George? On the other hand, the ruling DMK's alliance remains intact and formidable. Having won three consecutive elections, the party is banking on its welfare programmes such as monthly Rs 1000 assistance for women, free bus rides for women, free breakfast for school children, and youth skill development schemes to retain its base. The DMK has also launched a door-to-door membership campaign aiming to enroll 30 per cent of the state's voters as party members. With elections still nine months away, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu is heating up. What once looked like a bipolar contest is now shaping into a four-cornered battle - between the DMK-led front, AIADMK-BJP alliance, TVK, and Director Seeman's NTK.
