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The split in Kerala Congress (J) and the Joseph faction leaving the ruling Left-front in the final year of its term might seem merely yet another episode of greed for power and political opportunism, but a closer look at the issue would tell us much more.
Why should PJ Joseph should have taken such a decision in haste even without consultations with the top brass of the UDF, that too at this juncture of time? There might be political reasons for PC Thomas to remain in the LDF, but why should Surendran Pillai? What is the role of TU Kuruvila( For we have already seen the ruling LDF coming to his rescue in the infamous land deal-case)?Is it all staged by the Catholic church? If the education bill that hurts the interests of the minority community is the real reason, why didn’t they utter a word against it then in the LDF? Questions are plenty and answers seem obvious, but not when we look at it closer enough.
The State Finance Minister has already come up with allegations against Mr. Joseph. In his last two days in the office as the PWD Minister, Mr. Joseph has awarded 20 contracts for various projects in Idukki and Kottayam districts. In Idukki alone there are 14 ongoing projects which haven’t yet got administrative sanction even Technical Sanction. 147 bills were cashed for different works for which administrative sanction was obtained only after the works were done. These are all facts known to all, what they all are missing is the other side of the story- that there is a larger conspiracy to carry forward the interests of the real-estate lobby. Most of the projects sanctioned during the last term of the Kerala Congress (J) are in Idukki district, which includes the most environmentally sensitive parts of the Western Ghats. Tenders for many projects in the region were called for even before obtaining administrative sanction or technical sanction. The projects include clandestine plans for the reconstruction of Old Aluva-Munnar road and Kodaikkanal Highway. Both these projects are found to be environmentally unviable by various studies including the one conducted by the Greenpeople. The projects if implemented would lead to the destruction of the Western Ghats- one of the world’s 10 ecological hotspots. Yet the vested interests in politics and power are pursuing these projects with vigor eying on the natural resources in the region. Forest resources are being plundered in the name of development. The ongoing Idamalayar Irrigation Project is a classic example. Major leaders of the Kerala Congress (J) have vast holdings of land in the region and by implementing these projects they hope to boost the land prices. Former ministers of the party allegedly possess hectares of land in high ranges. Top Revenue officials in the region who don’t want their name to be publicized confided to us on this. During the four years in power with the LDF, they have succeeded in obtaining sanctions for various projects in the region, now what they want is speedy completion of those works before public know about it. With the LDF seeing little chance of returning to power the only way out was to join the next government. We have information from trusted sources that the UDF leadership has given assurances Mr. Joseph to that effect.