Latest news with #LeftDemocraticFront
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The mortal remains of former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will be kept at old AKG Centre on Monday evening
The mortal remains of former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will be kept at the old AKG Centre in Thiruvananthapuram for the public to pay homage on Monday evening (July 21, 2025). Later, the body will be taken to the house of his son, V.S. Arun Kumar, at Barton Hill in the city. On Tuesday (July 22, 2025), Mr. Achuthanandan's body will lie in State at the iconic Durbar Hall at the Secretariat. Mr. Achuthanandan's cortege will proceed to Alappuzha on Tuesday afternoon. Hundreds of people are expected to line the road to Alappuzha to pay their respects to the veteran communist leader and freedom fighter. At Alappuzha, Mr. Achuthanandan's remains will be kept at his family home for the night. Funeral on Wednesday On Wednesday, Mr. Achuthanandan will be cremated with full State and party honours at the Valiyachudukadu cemetery, the final resting place of hundreds of martyrs of the historic 1946 Punnapra Vayalar uprising against landlords and the feudal-colonial regime. Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan told reporters that party flags would fly at half-mast until the mourning period ends. With Mr. Achuthanandan's condition worsening on Monday noon, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Health Minister Veena George, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, Law Minister P. Rajeeve, and scores of party workers, including Left Democratic Front (LDF) convener T.K. Ramakrishnan, CPI(M) Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V. Joy, reached the hospital. The hospital authorities pronounced Mr. Achuthanandan dead from a massive cardiac arrest at 3.20 p.m. Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak also visited the hospital to confer with the Ministers to make arrangements for a State funeral for the late Chief Minister. The Ministers and Mr. Jayathilak held talks with Mr. Achuthanandan's family members to finalise the arrangements. Hundreds of workers converged at the private hospital where Mr. Achuthanandan breathed his last. A living legend: Brinda Veteran CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat termed Mr. Achuthanandan a living legend, a history-maker, and a warrior. 'The beloved comrade was a warrior for the poor. He had a heart so big that he would intensely feel the pain of the deprived, the exploited and the downtrodden. The history of the communist party is deeply intertwined with the life of the comrade. He understood human suffering and worked for working class upliftment,' she told reporters in New Delhi.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Election fever will not grip Mattannur municipality in 2025 also
As in the past, Mattannur municipality in Kannur district will sit out as the rest of Kerala faces the local body elections later this year. This is because the five-year term of the Mattannur municipal council does not coincide with that of the other 1,199 panchayats, municipalities, and corporations in Kerala. The council has two more years left in its term before it faces elections. The State Election Commission, which prepares the electoral rolls and conducts elections to local bodies, noted on Saturday that the term of the Mattannur council would expire only on September 10, 2027. In the case of the other local bodies, new councils have to take over by December 21 this year. One of the 87 municipalities in Kerala, Mattannur's loner status dates back to the 1990s and a political controversy over its elevation to a municipality. The curious case of Mattannur is once again back in the spotlight with the State Election Commission kicking off the process for the 2025 local body elections. The commission is set to publish the draft voters' lists on July 23 ahead of its revision for the polls. The State Delimitation Commission had covered Mattannur also in the Phase 1 of the delimitation exercise which saw the reorganisation of wards in grama panchayats, municipalities, and corporations. The number of wards in the municipality has increased from 35 to 36. However, the draft rolls for the municipality to be published on July 23 will be based on the old ward structure and not on the basis of the delimited wards, State Election Commissioner A. Shajahan said. Elections were last held to the municipality in 2022, whereas all the other local bodies elected new councils in 2020. Although the Left Democratic Front (LDF) retained its traditional grip in Mattannur, it won fewer seats (21) in the 2022 elections, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) doubled its tally to 14. The commission said on Saturday that the 2025 elections would be held to 941 grama panchayats, 86 municipalities, six corporations, 152 block panchayats and 14 district panchayats. The E.K. Nayanar-led Left Democratic Front government had elevated Mattannur panchayat to a municipality in 1990. But the United Democratic Front government which came to power in 1991 cancelled this decision. The LDF moved court, and Mattannur remained in limbo for a number of years. When the LDF returned to power in 1996, it upgraded Mattannur to a municipality. Mattannur saw municipal elections for the first time in 1997. The LDF had won all the elections since then.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress and IUML pressure government to hold Vellapally Natesan accountable for ‘stoking' social schisms
Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to mount pressure on the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government on Sunday (July 20, 2025) to hold SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan accountable for allegedly stoking religious schisms in society through 'communal and caste grievance-weighted hate speeches'. The tense relationship between the IUML-Congress leadership and Mr Natesan escalated on Saturday (July 19, 2025), with him, as the general secretary of the electorally significant Hindu backwards class organisation, stating that the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) were equally beholden to the Muslim community's growing electoral and economic heft and, hence, hostage to minority vote bank politics. Mr Natesan also stated that the IUML planned to expand its presence in Central and South Kerala and would seek more seats in the 2026 Assembly polls with an eye on the Chief Minister's post. Mr Natesan's remarks drew harsh criticism from the IUML mouthpiece, Chandrika. In an editorial on Sunday (July 20, 2025), Chandrika termed Mr Natesan a dated community leader who spewed 'communal venom' to 'claw back socio-political relevance'. The newspaper compared Mr. Natesan to Praveen Togadia, an outspoken advocate of Hindu nationalism. The Chandrika noted that the country's secular constitution did not ban people of any faith, including Muslims, from holding high constitutional office. Chandrika alleged that Sree Narayana Guru's humanist philosophy and teachings were anathema to Mr. Natesan. The IUML national general secretary, P K Kunhalikutty, emphasised that it was the responsibility of the LDF government to act against individuals who exploit the bully pulpit of influential social organisations to cause communal divisions in Kerala's secular society. He avoided addressing whether the police should charge Mr Natesan with enmity between communities and instead placed the burden on the government to 'determine the proper course of action'. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan alleged that Mr Natesan raised dog whistle issues, such as caste and religion, at the behest of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He accused the CPI(M) of sending a subtly aimed political message through Mr Natesan to galvanise the majority community votes by othering minorities. Mr Sathesan accused the CPI(M) of sacrificing secularism at the altar of political expediency. Meanwhile, Mr Natesan dug his heels in on his earlier stance on Sunday (July 20, 2025). Mr Natesan said he had merely stated the truth and was willing to 'be jailed or politically hounded for it'.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
New legislation planned to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts: Saseendran
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has said that a draft is being prepared for a new legislation aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflict in the State. The decision to move forward in this regard was based on an advice received from the Advocate General, who suggested that the State could utilise the provisions of the Concurrent List to enact such a law. While the drafting process has begun, it would likely be presented at the next Cabinet meeting, the Minister told mediapersons on Thursday. He added that the decision to draft the law was taken on the instruction of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The government plans to introduce the Bill in the Legislative Assembly session scheduled for next month. The move comes in the wake of widespread criticism that existing Central laws and regulations are impractical in addressing the State's challenges. Several quarters have argued that the current legal framework heavily favours wildlife protection, often at the expense of human safety and livelihoods. The Minister said the new legislation aimed at balancing the interests of both humans and wildlife. It would deviate from current norms by giving greater consideration to human concerns in conflict scenarios. The draft will, however, undergo further discussions within the Cabinet and among constituent members of the ruling Left Democratic Front. Public opinion will also be solicited and considered before the Bill is finalised and introduced in the assembly, he added.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
LDF government, Raj Bhavan equally responsible for wrecking higher education sector: V.D. Satheesan
The State government and the Raj Bhavan are equally responsible for wrecking the higher education sector, once the pride of Kerala, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan has said. The 'power struggles' between the government and the Raj Bhavan have plunged the functioning of universities into uncertainty. The most recent events at the University of Kerala are a continuation of the power struggles and conflicts that have persisted over the past two years, Mr. Satheesan said in a statement on Monday (July 7, 2025). The Left Democratic Front(LDF) government has over the years treated the universities and colleges as departments of the AKG Centre, when they should have introduced timely academic reforms. On the other side, the Sangh Parivar has attempted to saffronise higher education and the syllabi. The consequent lowering of academic standard is the reason for students seeking higher education options elsewhere, he said. Majority of the universities in the State have no full-time Vice-Chancellors. Administration is carried out by 'in-charge' VCs. The State government and the Raj Bhavan should stop using the universities and other educational institutions as venues for their political dramas. The Governor, Mr. Satheesan said, should not forget the Constitutional limits and boundaries placed on his office.
