Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala observed a near total shutdown on Tuesday, adhering to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s protest call, demanding the resignation of state finance minister K.M. Mani in the bar bribery case.
Mani is accused of accepting Rs10 million (Dh598,553) as bribe from the Bar and Hotel Association (BHA). Mani has vehemently denied the claim, but BHA working president, Biju Ramesh has submitted some taped conversations to the vigilance department, claiming that they offer proof that Mani had been bribed to dilute the proposed prohibition plan in the state.
The shutdown on Tuesday is seen by political observers as a victory of sorts for the BJP, which is yet to win an assembly or parliament seat in Kerala. Normally, only shutdown calls from the Congress or Communist Party of India Marxist are heeded by the large majority of people.
Tuesday’s shutdown, therefore, is seen as a morale booster for the BJP, underlining its growing influence in the state.
Shops and commercial establishments remained closed, public and private transport were off the road and those who arrived from outside the state at railway stations had a tough time reaching their final destinations.
In Kochi, BJP supporters held a march and in Muvattupuzha BJP activists made a symbolic protest by blindfolding the statue of Kerala Congress party founder, K.M. George. The party has split several times since its founding and Mani now leads the prominent faction of the party, the Kerala Congress (M).
Barring two wheelers and a few private vehicles, all the roads were deserted. Markets and shopping establishments were forced to cooperate with the shutdown or face the wrath of the organisers.
State Congress vice-president M.M. Hassan said no political party should call for a shutdown as it displaces the common man for no reason.
At the IT parks in the state capital and in Kochi, police provided security and employees who normally use company transport came to work on such vehicles.
Many employees at the ISRO organisations in the capital city also availed the police escorted convoy services to report for work, while attendance at the state secretariat and government offices was minimal.
“The BJP state unit has spoiled all the good work that the highly successful visit of US president Barack Obama has brought about. Instead of capitalising and building the party here, they are playing spoilsport,” said an IT professional.
The 27th Kerala Science Congress got under way in Alappuzha amid tight security. The district administration provided special transport services for the young budding scientists to reach the venue where the three day event is being held.
Meanwhile, the Opposition Left Democratic Front partners disagreed on whether or not to invite the Kerala Congress (B) faction headed by R. Balakrishna Pillai from the ruling United Democratic Front coalition. Pillai had openly criticized Mani, and some UDF leaders are of the opinion that he should be shown the door.
The CPM leadership appeared ready to accept Pillai, but the Communist Party of India took a counter view. CPI state secretary Panniyan Ravindran commented that UDF constituents were “corrupt” and they should not be taken into the LDF fold.
The UDF committee meeting on Wednesday is expected to take a call on whether to let Pillai’s Kerala Congress (B) continue with the UDF.
