The protest before Kerala powerful Law Academy, which is
arguably the first self financing college in Kerala has exposed the hypocrisy
of political parties in Kerala who are adept in the art of hunting with the
hound and running with the hare. Kerala Law Academy strike is one of the rare
moments in Kerala politics when political parties seem to have lost equilibrium
while performing the grand juggling act of balancing the interests of caste, religious
and vested interest groups in Kerala with their social obligations.
All those groups have conflicting interests and all of
them try to take advantage of all emerging situations in Kerala hiding their
real intenstions. Successful political leaders in Kerala are those who have the
ability to manage these contradictions (conflicting interests) to a certain
degree on each occasion. The need to manage conflicting interests resulted in
the hypocrisy prevalent in Kerala politics which claims to be progressive but
is actually reactionary.
Having explained my views on Kerala politics let me come
to Kerala Law Academy. For latecomers,
here is the background.
Kerala
Law Academy strike and its background
A protest by students and political parties in Kerala is
going on before Kerala Law Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, demanding the
resignation of Lekshmi Nair, the principal of the college and daughter of the
college director Mr. N Narayanan Nair accusing her of highhandedness in discharging
her duties. The protestors add that the college has violated many stipulations
of Kerala University to which it is affiliated. They also allege that the land
of Kerala Law Academy was granted to them by the state government flouting all
norms and currently the land is being misused, violating the terms for
granting. While the students wing of CPM, SFI reached an agreement with
management (according to which principal Lekshmi Nair will keep away from the
college for five years) and withdrew strike, others are still continuing the
strike demanding resignation of Lekshmi Nair and action against misuse of land.
The land originally belonged to the family of P.S
Nataraja Pillai, a freedom fighter and former minister of Thiru-Kochi which was
seized by Travancore government. Later, in 1967 during the time of CPM ministry
lead by EMS Namboothirippad the land was granted to a trust whose secretary was
Mr Narayanan Nair.
Kerala
Law Academy: Refuge of political leaders
Having said the history,
let me comeback to the impact of Kerala Law Academy issue on Kerala politics.
Kerala Law Academy is
the only refuge of leaders of political parties of Kerala who aspire to take a
law degree (LLB). Kerala Law Academy
gives scores of admissions to those recommended by political parties through management
quota annually. These leaders aim to gain some respectability through law
degree. They aim a career in politics and practising in courts is not their
priority unlike those who get admission through merit quota who want to rise in
legal profession.
All political parties
in Kerala got this benefit from Kerala Law Academy annually ever since it came
into existence. It is said that Mr. Narayanan Nair has several files full of
recommendation letters written by doyens of Kerala politics for students who
would have never got admissions by merit in any other institutions.
Reports in media say
all political parties in Kerala are the beneficiaries of the magnanimity of
Kerala Law Academy director Narayanan Nair and principal Lekshmi Nair. They include CPI, CPM and Congress. BJP might
also have received some favours but definitely very less compared to others.
The family members of
governing body of Kerala Law Academy are in key positions in many political
parties in Kerala. While Narayanan Nair is known as very influential in CPI,
his brother Koliyakkode Krishnan Nair is a former MLA and now the state
committee member of CPI (M) and state president of Kerala Karshaka Sanghom
(farmers organisation of CPI (M). Narayanan Nair’s wife was once state
president of the women’s wing of Kerala Congress, which was a coalition partner
of UDF. While a family member and trust president Ayyappan Pillai is a veteran
BJP leader another member Jayakumar is the special private secretary of Kerala
CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Lekshmi Nair is closely linked to CPM’s television channel
Kairali TV and conducts many shows in it regularly.
This means the family
roots are spread deeply in all power centres and the family tree cannot be
dismantled without causing damage to the power centres (political parties).
While a CPI (M) lead government allotted land for Kerala Law Academy, Congress
government lead by K.Karunakaran approved it later. There had been many
accusations against the academy on many counts apart from land allotment. There
had been several allegations about changing the structure of the governing
body, flouting of reservation rules in admissions, making appointments against
norms, conduct of examinations, torturing students, and many more. But no
Government that ruled the state bothered to investigate and take appropriate action.
The reason is many Kerala
politicians who speak relentlessly against discrimination, favouritism and disparities
in public life have either themselves enjoyed the favours of Kerala Law Academy
or had used it to promote their cronies. Judges of many courts in India including higher courts have taken degree from here. Thus Kerala Law Academy stands as the symbol of
the hypocrisy and disparity of political parties in Kerala.
While there had been
some protests before Kerala Law Academy earlier to show that injustice won’t be
tolerated, they were all quietly withdrawn. The management had the last laugh
always. In the shades of darkness, protestors and oppressors said cheers to the
health and wealth of bourgeoisie, while the naive depressed and oppressed were
satisfied with the bread crumbs that fell down the table. It seemed that political
opportunists and hypocrites would continue to rule till deluge. But they are
panicked now. why are they in a soup now?
BJP’s
entry gives unexpected twist to Kerala’s political fiascos
The answer is, the unexpected
entry of BJP is giving new twists to political fiascos in Kerala. Alleged
violations of rules by Kerala Law Academy have been ignored till now as all
political parties have got benefits. But unlike others, BJP has not received
many freebies from the institution. The reason could be BJP has never been a
ruling party in Kerala and lacked the clout. Anyway, fact remains fact. BJP
hasn’t received many freebies compared to others with heavy baggage, BJP with a
light baggage can move against the management with sincerity to find a solution
if it has a will.
There had been only
two power groups in Kerala politics, Congress lead UDF and CPM lead LDF. They
solved many contradictions to save their skin. Now that is not happening as there
is a third group. Though BJP is an untouchable to all mainstream political
parties in Kerala, in the Kerala Law Academy strike they are not. CPI leaders
are found exchanging greetings with striking BJP leaders. Some Congress leaders
have also done that. ABVP is in the joint students’ front. Suddenly, the battle
ground in Kerala has enough space for them. If BJP has a long term plan, the Kerala
Law Academy strike would continue and the party will reap benefit, if it lacks
a plan and will, Kerala Law Academy strike would end.
The strike has
exposed the hypocrisy and double standards of Kerala politics. Is it the beginning
of a new political culture of sincere politics. Only time will tell.
Let me also add. the culprits
in Kerala Law Academy issue are not just Narayanan Nair, Lekshmi Nair and their
relatives. Those respected top politicians of Kerala who facilitated the
violations of law over the years for their self interest are equally
responsible. Those who shared the booty should share the punishment. That is
natural justice.
END
