It is indeed interesting to watch the Achumama-Pinarayi road show, what with everyone trying to paint every imaginable conflict in the Achu-Pinarayi colors, like the Catholic Church's fight with Pharis Aboobacker over Deepika. What prompted me to write this piece is the support Achu seems to enjoy amongst at least a section of today's youth. I really find it disconcerting that Achu, who is one of the most inefficient and inept chief minister that Kerala has ever had, enjoys at least some support among the youth. Even more disconcerting is the fact that they have falling for Achu's verbal gimmicks.
I know I stand the danger of being painted a Pinarayi supporter, but let us face it: Achu's administration has done precious little in the way of governance. Of course, if we believe Achu's media managers that tearing down illegal constructions in Munnar is a great achievement for the state, then Achu is the best chief minister Kerala has had. Sadly, bulldozing illegal constructions is not among the criteria on which I, and most pople, would like to rate an administration. Without taking away from Achu the credit for doing it in all his haste, let us remember that even if those buildings stood a fw more days it wouldn't have mattered for the average Malayali.
And there are a lot of things that matter for the Keralite and those for which Achu's administration has scored zero marks. Let us look at the health scene. I think a zillion types of viruses are wreaking havoc in the state, and the health care system has all but broken down. Still we are yet to see a concerted effort from the part of the government to lick the issue. Yes, you can say the health minister is a Pinarayi supporter and is to blame. But Achu as chief minister is not above blame. Why cannot he act - like in the case of the Munnar demolitions - and get the health machinery moving? Because that is not going to bring him cheap publicity. The picture I get is that of an old man hungry for cheap publicity, but completely inept when it comes to ruling the state.
Or look at the state of the roads in the state. Except for the showpiece stretch of tarmac in front of the Raj Bhavan there is not a single road in Thiruvananthapuram without potholes. I would not even classify some of these as roads! And this did not happen overnight. The roads were pretty bad even before the monsoons started. The sad thing is neither the CM or the ministers or the officials are worried about this rickety state of affairs.
These are just two things that come to mind when trying to evaluate Achumama's government. I highlighted them here because they affect the common man more directly than any other issue now. Yet it is sad that some think Achu is a fantastic chief minister. The people are clapping now, and they are being egged on by people like Veerendrakumar and other media guys. But the day is not far when open questions will arise about the Achu government. By then the damage would have been done to the LDF. The CPM Politburo should act fast and decide if they need a wily, power-crazy, and incompetent old man who is trying to build himself a larger-than-party image as chief minister and lose its credibility in the bargain or would rather have a more competent, disciplined and practical chief minister and save the future of the party and the state. The faster the Politburo addresses the question, the better.
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