Pinarayi Vijayan accuses UDF of undermining Keralam’s constitutional institutions, secular fabric

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates the party rally in Kannur on Sunday.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member and Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of undermining Keralam’s constitutional institutions, secular fabric, development initiatives, and welfare schemes, while alleging that its policies were helping advance the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda in the State.

Inaugurating a public rally organised as part of the extended CPI(M) district committee meeting in Kannur on Sunday (October 25), Mr. Vijayan sought the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had facilitated the exclusion of more than 13 crore voters from electoral rolls across the country through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

“The most important foundation of democracy is that people must be able to freely exercise their right to vote. It is the people who must decide which government should be elected. Constitutional institutions must ensure that citizens can exercise this right without obstruction,” he said.

Alleging that the ECI had acted in the interests of the BJP government, Mr. Vijayan said evidence had emerged of irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls, including in Uttar Pradesh. He accused Mr. Kumar of being willing to take anti-democratic and unconstitutional decisions and called for the restoration of voting rights to those excluded.

He said protests demanding Mr. Kumar’s removal had gained momentum nationwide, with the CPI(M), Left organisations, youth, and student groups playing a significant role. He condemned police action against protesters, including alleged physical and sexual assaults on women participants, and said the repression had only strengthened the agitation.

“If Jantar Mantar is shut down, it does not mean the protest will disappear. Thousands of Jantar Mantars are emerging across the country,” he said.

On the controversy surrounding Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s reported recommendation to the President regarding the Kerala Public Service Commission, Mr. Vijayan said the Governor could not act unilaterally in a constitutional matter. He maintained that the Governor was bound by the Constitution and the advice of the Council of Ministers.

He said the Constitution prescribed safeguards for action against PSC members including an inquiry by the Supreme Court and a report, and alleged that no such inquiry existed in the case of Keralam. Citing judicial interventions, including a Karnataka High Court ruling and Supreme Court observations, he said a Governor could not seek the removal of a PSC member at his personal discretion.

“The sanctity of the PSC must be protected,” he said, pointing out that more than three lakh people had been appointed through the institution over the past decade. He accused the UDF of repeatedly undermining the Commission’s credibility and questioned the State government’s failure to oppose the Governor’s actions, including his reported summoning of the PSC Secretary.

Mr. Vijayan also alleged that the UDF government was allowing the RSS to gain influence over Keralam’s higher education sector through appointments and interventions in university syndicates, senates, academic councils, and boards of studies. He warned that these moves could influence curricula and introduce the Sangh Parivar’s communal agenda into educational institutions.

Recalling the dismissal of the elected Communist government in 1959, despite its legislative majority, he described it as one of India’s gravest attacks on democracy.

He further accused the UDF government of weakening development and welfare initiatives. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), he said, had implemented projects worth ₹40,000 crore and was associated with development worth nearly ₹1 lakh crore, but was now facing attempts to undermine it.

Mr. Vijayan alleged that monthly assistance of ₹1,000 for women and a similar scheme for young people had been discontinued. He said the government’s actions threatened social security, development and Keralam’s secular identity.

Calling for stronger resistance, he urged people who wanted to protect Keralam’s secular and developmental traditions to strengthen the CPI(M).