LDF Calls Off The Siege

14 August 2013
Thiruvananthapuram

The LDF’s decision to call off its Secretariat blockade following the State government’s announcement of a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the High Court appears to be a partial victory for Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The developments of the day, leading to the announcement of the judicial inquiry and the withdrawal of the Secretariat siege, temporarily put on the backburner the question of Mr. Chandy’s resignation, one of the two main demands of the LDF.

The second part of Mr. Chandy’s victory will depend on the terms of reference of the judicial probe related to bringing the involvement of his office in the solar scam within its purview. Mr. Chandy has already ruled out this out, by maintaining that it would depend on the extent of the criminal investigations into the scam. Orders for the judicial probe will be issued as soon as the State Cabinet gives the green signal when it meets here on Friday.

It also goes to the credit of the Chief Minister that he kept the channels of communications with the top LDF leadership open, offering to hold talks and working behind the scene to strike a workable pact.

Right from the beginning, the Chief Minister’s approach was to treat the agitation as a law and order problem though it had admittedly political aims. He had openly stated that he assumed the responsibility for the decisions taken to handle the agitation. He also roped in the UDF leaders for discussions when faced with the charges that he was acting unilaterally.

Source– http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cm-succeeds-in-warding-off-first-major-challenge/article5021708.ece

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