Satchidanandan voiced Left unease: Satheesan

KOZHIKODE: Opposition leader VD Satheesan on Monday said that poet K Satchidanandan's warning against the dangers of continuous rule reflects growing unease even among genuine Left supporters and fellow travellers about yet another term for an LDF govt.

Welcoming the statement made by Satchidanandan, who is also the president of the Kerala Sahithya Akademi, Satheesan said that the statement by the renowned poet reinforced the UDF's long-held arguments that it is the genuine Left supporters and Left fellow travellers who are more concerned about the degeneration of CPM.

"Even Left fellow travellers are not enthusiastic about the LDF govt. The view being expressed is that another term of continuous rule will not be beneficial," he said.

Satchidanandan had said that what democracy needed was not continuous rule by a front but alternating govts and had said that West Bengal should serve as a lesson.

Meanwhile, responding to Satchidanandan's remarks, CPM state secretary M V Govindan said in Kozhikode on Monday that it was his personal opinion and that does not mean that the present govt need not continue in power.

"He expressed his personal view. His idea was that if the same govt continues in power repeatedly, it could lead to a sense of complacency, even among cadres. There may be some who hold such a view. That does not mean that this govt should not continue. We are explaining why the govt needs to continue in the present context. We also need to explain why it should continue further. That is related to Kerala's development," Govindan said.

Meanwhile, writer and Kerala Sahithya Akademi vice-president Asokan Charuvil said that the argument that the Left should be defeated this time and the UDF brought to power "to save both the CPM and the Congress" was first put forward by writer M N Karassery and now other respected figures such as Satchidanandan and Sara Joseph have followed Karassery's line.

Need change of govt: Sarah Joseph
Writer Sarah Joseph said there should be a change of govt in Kerala and alleged that the LDF has a history of aligning with "any demon" to retain power.

She told reporters that the present situation in the state and the country reflects a complete destruction of democracy. She said there was an expectation that the LDF, after continuous rule, would emerge as protectors of democracy.

"But all governing classes require communal and religious powers. By befriending them, these ruling classes are destroying democratic and secular India. Surely, there is a need for a change of govt," Joseph said.