Stop alternating coalitions: Achuthanandan

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Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan during an election campaign in Kannur. PHOTO: PTI

The chief minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, on Wednesday urged the people to end the practice of alternating coalitions every five years.
Addressing an election convention at Taliparamba in Kannur district, Mr Achuthanandan also reiterated his resolve to take on ‘those who swindled public money’ and those ‘who sexually exploited girls’.
The veteran said his detractors wanted to know whether he could fulfil the promise that those involved in the sex racket would be put behind the bars.
“It is a genuine question, but they must know that one person was sent to the jail after the legal battle of more than two decades,” he said. “The case of those who are now out will not be different.”
The left democratic front candidate for Taliparamba, Mr James Mathew, and the former MLA, Mr C.K.P. Padmanabhan, were also present.
If the UDF is voted to power, it will torpedo all the people-friendly projects initiated by the LDF government, Mr Achuthanandan said later at the convention held at Kanhangad in Kasargod district.
He added that around 1,500 farmers committed suicide during the tenure of the UDF government but after coming to power, the LDF government gave financial support to the families of those who died.
“The support price for paddy was Rs. 7 during the reign of the UDF, but we raised it to Rs. 14,” he said.
The LDF candidate, Mr U. Chandrasekharan, the CPI (M) district secretary, Mr Satheesh Chandran, and others attended the crowded meetings.