‘CPI(M) travelling on the same path as BJP’: V.D. Satheesan

Interview/ V.D. Satheesan, leader of opposition, Kerala

Q/ A narrative used by your political opponents is that if the United Democratic Front (UDF) comes to power, it will essentially be a Muslim League rule. There is also the claim that the UDF is controlled by the Jamaat-e-Islami and that you have “whitewashed” that organisation.

Across states, the BJP is trying to propagate hate campaigns and create religious divisions. Unfortunately, in Kerala, the CPI(M) is travelling on the same path. During the Lok Sabha election, our chief minister [attempted] minority appeasement. That narrative failed because they did not receive minority votes. After the elections, they changed their position and began majority appeasement.

Take the case of Jamaat-e-Islami. We do not have any relationship with Jamaat-e-Islami. There is a political party called the Welfare Party [backed by the organisation]. Jamaat-e-Islami had political proximity with the CPI(M) for the last four decades. At that time, they were considered secular. From 2019 onwards, due to national political developments, the Welfare Party supported the UDF during elections. We accepted that support, nothing more. They are not a constituent of the UDF.

After the UDF’s consecutive loss in 2016 and 2021, the CPI(M) tried to approach the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). When I took over as leader of the opposition, the morale of our workers was very low because of the defeats. But Muslim League leaders clearly said that there were a thousand reasons to remain with the UDF and not even one reason to go with the LDF.

The IUML has historically held a secular position. One question we always raise is this: if the IUML weakens, who will occupy that space? It will be extremist forces. In reality, the IUML has prevented the entry of extremist forces.

Q/ You have said that the Congress is the real left in Kerala and have described the CPI(M) as moving towards extreme right. Why is it strategically necessary for the Congress to claim the left space in Kerala?

When I say left, I mean the Nehruvian left—a socialist, progressive and secular approach. The left is not owned by any single party.

The CPI(M) in Kerala has taken many positions that are closer to the extreme right. In many ways, they are on the same path as the sangh parivar. Because of that, many left-leaning people who supported the CPI(M) for decades are now unhappy. They believed the party would pursue progressive and socialist policies, but they are now disappointed.

They are supporting us because we have taken a clear secular position in Kerala.

Q/ The Left Democratic Front’s campaign says Kerala needs continuity in governance and claims development will stall if it does not return to power. Your response?

Kerala has already collapsed. Our fiscal position is very vulnerable. The economy is the backbone of a state, and that backbone is weakening. The state’s debt has crossed Rs6 lakh crore. For the past 12 months, Kerala has had the highest price rise in India. The government is unable to conduct market interventions because it owes large amounts to the Civil Supplies Corporation. When you go to public hospitals, medicines are not available because the Medical Services Corporation has huge pending payments.

Higher education is also suffering and ‘brain drain’ is increasing. If this continues for another five years, Kerala may become an old-age society. The agriculture sector is also in poor condition. The government is unable to procure rice, coconut or rubber effectively. Many plantations have closed.

At the same time, the government has huge liabilities towards employees, pensioners and teachers. Backdoor appointments have been happening for the last 10 years, while public service appointments are not happening. In many sectors, the government has failed. In such a situation, how can they ask for a third term?

Q/ The Congress has not officially declared a chief ministerial candidate yet, but the CPI(M) often directs personal attacks at you. Do you see this as a validation of your leadership and a claim to the CM post?

In the Congress there is a procedure for selecting the chief minister. We have not declared anyone as a chief ministerial candidate. After the election, there is a process followed by the high command in every state. The chief minister is selected after discussions with the MLAs and after assessing the situation.

They are focusing on me because, as leader of the opposition, I have been attacking the government both inside and outside the assembly.... I am actually enjoying it. I often say they are doing my PR through their negative campaign.

Q/ Your relationship with community leaders like Sukumaran Nair of the Nair Service Society (NSS) and Vellapally Natesan of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam often appears confrontational.

Some of them do not like me. They have every right to dislike me. The issue is that we have taken a strong secular stand in Kerala. Whoever propagates communal politics, we will oppose it. That includes both minority communalism and majority communalism.

Personally, I have no problem with leaders of organisations like the NSS or SNDP. But when communal statements are made, we oppose them. That is our stand, and it is a clear secular position.

Q/ The CPI(M) has been running a campaign to remind people what the UDF rule was like 10 years ago. First, there was the website Irunda Kaalam (dark times), followed by a public relations department campaign in newspapers with public money.

There is a Supreme Court verdict regarding government advertisements. The government is violating those directions. You can advertise government programmes, and we are not preventing that. But the department of public relations is giving advertisements against the opposition. That amounts to election campaigning using public funds.

You cannot run an election campaign using money from the exchequer. That is why we are approaching the court with a public interest litigation. The government is violating advertisement rules.

If they want to debate our tenure, we are ready. The previous UDF government started many welfare programmes. Many of them have been stopped by the present government.