[1]The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government marked its fourth anniversary in power on Monday with a dose of chest-thumping which could not hide the deep unease in the ruling front.
In the last four years, the LDF Cabinet has not been able to present a united face before the people because of the serious differences between the octogenarian chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his CPI(M) ministers.
This had thrown a shadow over the performance of the state government and has even dimmed its achievements in certain sectors.
It often looked as if Mr Achuthanandan was pulling in one direction and the ministers were trying to steer the government another way. The quarrels between the chief minister and the state leadership of the CPI(M) only accentuated the perception of the government being directionless.
As the government enters its final year, the chief minister and industries minister Elamaram Kareem are caught in a cold war over land acquirement in Kinalur and the CPI(M) has ignored Mr Achuthanandan’s opposition to foist a private secretary of its choosing in his office. That this style of functioning has eroded its popularity became evident in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and the recent Assembly bypolls.
The differences in the Cabinet saw to it that initiatives taken by the chief minister lost steam midway.
On his part, Mr Achuthanandan did not bother to pursue development projects launched by the previous Congress-led UDF government such as the Smart City despite promising to do so.
To its credit, the LDF government has made 32 loss-making public sector units profitable, shored up the public distribution system and has extended the ambit of welfare pensions to more sections.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/achut1jpg-777