 "UDF has won first round of polls: Oommen Chandy")
With CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury stating that if LDF comes to power, there would be no reversal of decisions already taken on the liquor policy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said it was a "setback" for the Marxist party in the state.
Controversy over the liquor policy arose after CPI (M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that the Marxist led front was not in favour of total prohibition, but abstinence.
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However, following a hue and cry from various quarters, including even the Catholic Church, asking it to make its stand clear, Yechury had to intervene to clarify that if voted to power, LDF would not reverse any of the decisions already taken by the Kerala government on the liquor policy.
Asked about CPI (M)'s clarification, Chandy said: "I am happy that a situation has come that they (CPI-M) have to support UDF's stand. If it is sincere, I welcome it. But it is a strong setback to the CPI (M) state leadership. It is a big victory for our policy", he told PTI in an interview at Cliff House, his official residence here.
"The CPI (M) led LDF has been forced to change its policy on liquor due to the fear of a backlash in the elections", Chandy said.
It is by joining hands with a section of the liquor lobby, CPI (M) had planned the "most cruel tactics" to attack the government, he alleged, referring to the recent sexual abuse charge by solar scam accused Saritha S Nair against him. "UDF's policy is practical and its aim is to reduce liquor consumption and have total prohibition in 10 years." The Kerala government had closed 730 bars as part of its policy and 10 per cent of the outlets of the state owned Beverages corporation were to be closed down every year.
"I feel it is not practical to implement total prohibition at one stretch. It is not the revenue loss which is important. I am not considering revenue from sales of liquor as an income of the government.
Kerala had earned Rs 7,000 crore as revenue from liquor sales. However, this is only in the accounts books. But the damage caused to the social sector due to liquor consumption -- suicides, health issues, accidents was over three to four times more than revenue earned.
"The loss due to liquor consumption is beyond estimates in the social sector. This is not the only issue plaguing total prohibition. Availability of spurious liquor is an issue. We need enough time to bring back those who have become addicts to normal life. For that we need awareness campaign," he said.
On the criminal defamation case he had filed against Saritha, Chandy said it was not an ordinary allegation she had levelled against him. "A forged document is involved in it, unlike earlier allegations".
"People of the state know me very well. Everything involving me is transparent. My office is fitted with a 24 hour camera and the doors and gates of my residence -- Cliff House is open at all times. I know that people will not believe these allegations", he said. "I will not say anything on matters which I do not know directly," Chandy said when asked if a former UDF minister was behind the latest allegations of Saritha.
On whether UDF had lost an election plank with CPI (M) changing its stand on the policy, Chandy said it was a 'big victory' for the Congress front as they were forced to accept the UDF policy, which they had strongly opposed.
"They were forced to change their stand on liquor policy out of fear of a backlash since the UDF policy had received full support of the people", he said,adding government was not looking at political gain.
"Our aim is to bring in welfare and prosperity in the social sector", he said.
Asked if the confusion over selection of candidates would impact the poll outcome, he said all those issues had been sorted out through mutual discussions.
"Today Congress and UDF is moving unitedly. It is not possible to satisfy everyone. But maximum efforts have been taken to accommodate all, though there were limitations".
Admitting that there had been omissions, he said that to achieve a bigger goal, the party would go unitedly in the polls, forgetting smaller issues.
Asked if renominating ministers facing corruption charges would impact the poll outcome, he said that in the last five years, the opposition had not been able to prove any of the charges or show evidence to substantiate the allegations.
"The repeated victory of UDF in three by-elections and Lok Sabha polls was proof of that," Chandy said.
Pointing out that he has been in public domain for the last 50 years, he felt if there was even one per cent truth in any of the charges, he was not fit to be in public life.
On women and youth not being given fair opportunity in candidate selection, he said Congress is a party which has several leaders. "Not only that, in each constituency there are five leaders who have the full support of the people. However only one person can be selected as candidate."
Taking a swipe at CPI (M), he said they had to search for candidates outside their party as they did not have enough leaders like the Congress. "The marxist party had to take on independents in various constituencies," he said.