The present Government in kerala barring few issues have done well and people do have huge respect for Oomman Chandy. 
Infact he is rated as one of the best Chief Minister in recent times. But the coterie ridden and scheming politicians who are out of touch with reality have spoiled it. Including the DICK father-son duo into UDF actually was a serious mistake. I was in Kerala few weeks back and I have heard many people praising Mr. Chandy, at that time there was talks going on whether DICK father son scoundrels should be included in UDF or not. And as most of us know keralaites speak politics a lot ( such is the case that hotels in small towns have even boards asking: no political talks!). I heard many people saying if DICK is back in UDF they will not vote Congress. So UDF is in serious trouble of its own making.
UDF is not isolated in this even the comrades in LDF particularly CPM knows some tricks on hara-kiri. The earlier decision on not to allow Mr. Achuthanadan to contest was shocking to most people. You could hear almost every other person saying: che sheri ayila (not a right thing to do)….in bus, train… I remember an auto rickshaw driver asking me why do you think they are committing this mistake. He is a very popular leader. Rightly so. 
I remember listening to his speech in Alapuzha town where I was roaming around almost a decade back and I thought he made lots of sense. I recollect he was talking about coir workers and other very important issues dealing with the place. I liked him very much. It is therefore shocking that CPM is so very out of touch with reality. There are certain interest groups in this party who seems to be going to any extend to be in power. How can you explain the ridiculous decision of even considering DIC(K) duo to be allowed to LDF? This has offcourse seriously eroded their image. If the LDF doesn’t weed out these viruses from its system then this Front will only plummet. Don’t take people for granted. Atleast not keralites. Further the left government have not been too sensitive to the issues of Tribals in the past. It also need be pointed out that it was the Communist Government that allowed CocaPepsi to set up their exploitative product shop, we can accept the argument that enormity of the misery it will create might not been aware. It is very sad considering that this party has a long history of taking up the issues which matters to the people most. There are many people in the older generation who still are very committed to this party almost in a romantic sense, sometimes out of touch with changing reality but then some ideas are eternal . This doesn’t mean that new government don’t allow genuine, sustainable development to take place and ensure employment opportunities to its young population who almost always have to leave home to far of places.
One wonders what kind of people have sneaked into this Party with such an incredible past. I am sure people in this part of the world will be aware of dreaded Attimarikar, which has since been stopped. So sometime it can really go into the hands of local thugs. So now thugs are at the policy making section it seems. Pinarayi Vijayan who was very excited about involving DIC(K) in Left front had this to say when asked about the corrupt background of Karunakaran : “We don’t go by History that is not communism….”. Yes comrade historical dialectics with no History! Such greed for power this man. Shame. It is people like him who feed scoundrels like Karunakaran and let them thrive. It is people like him who create a culture of tolerating and encouraging corruption. It was shocking when Eshwara Iyer (father of Rajan ) expired recently, Karunakaran humiliated him. This mad animal (that is what he is. At the age of 88 that is an achievement!!) is so blatantly promoting his son, who is equally uncouth. Rajan case is so etched in the minds of people of Kerala that it will remain in collective psyche for long time to come. My condolence to Eshwara Iyer’s family. May his soul rest in peace. Power hunger shouldn’t make likes of Pinarayi to assume people of kerala for fools. The audacity for neek pok. We need to blame ourselves for having people like Karunakaran as "leader". No wonder Ooman Chandy government’s many achievements have now been relegated. The UDF is on its way out no doubt but the people are also very apprehensive about LDF (particularly CPM) with back stage maneuverings. Many people even think they are being encouraged by the mafia. God save us from likes of neek pok Vijayan.
Talking of age most people contesting elections are 60 plus! Infact some are even 80 + like Achuthanandan and Gowriamma (who still is as fiery!!!. Her base seems to have eroded in recent times. But then, she is the longest serving legislator in the State. Quite an achievment). That I guess does reflect on kerala demography like Japan and European countries, majority of people here are over 60+. Unlike metros where there is no significant presence of elderly in public places in kerala they do play major role and are quite active with strong views. Like Achuthanandan who still has a level of passion in his speech and lifestyle which is amazing. I guess it has got to do with the place. The Ernakulam-kollam belt has always been politically very active. Many people sacrificed themselves during CP rule (stories of puzha turning red with blood) as also many other significant agitations (like punnapra). I remember when I was kid, on a kerala visit (part of my education was outside kerala) a young man of the neighborhood confronted me with a question: Boy you read Das Kapital?? ! I had no idea what he was talking about. He took me to the nearby reading room (in Kerala every few Km there will be reading room) and explained about muthalali-thozhilali stuff, which i could make no sense of. Later when I mentioned it to my elders they sternly told me not to talk to such people! Remember that incredible scene in Adoor's movie, Kathapurushan where the grandmother asks the caretaker what is a bourgeoisie, since the boy was beaten up in school for being a bourgeoisie. And he replies with that characteristic non chalance "a entho venda deenam ayirikum" (loosely translated means: must be some bad thing). I thought it was brilliant. At that time I used to think thozhilali means people who kick (thozhi meant kicking and followed by li)..…well it was the time when Bruce Lee was the ultimate hero. There were many instances of kids cracking their bones hitting bricks.
Before ending this piece one appreciate, not so insignificant contribution of comedians in TV channels, the people who do mimicry and have given some insight into how politicians work. Some of these guys are brilliant. I think this is typically a kerala phenomenon. Mimicry is taken earnestly in here and in college and school festivals this is seriously competed. Some of them do maintain very high standards. There is a program in a TV channel: Munshi, running for years now. The duration is around 3 minutes (beat that one!!) but brings out what really kerala is. Supporter of different political parties and representing sect saying few liners on a contemporary issue like the one you see in teashop or street corner followed by an old saying by an elderly man which capsulate everything. Short and crisp this definitely is a program I can say of international standard and uniquely ethnic. Quite an achievement this one. Congrats.
