Chief ministership is not a matter of relevance

(An interview with the Opposition leader Mr. A.K. Antony)

* If voted to power, how will you ensure the stability of Government for five years when your party is riven by factionalism? A.K. Antony : The UDF is working in perfect unison to end the LDF misrule. Congress leaders will sacrifice and compromise on their differing views on various subjects and policies to ensure the UDF unity. The ultimate aim of the Congress is to win the elections and to form a stable Government. See, there were differences among LDF constituents and CPM leaders during their five-year rule also.

* Looking back, how do you view the unseemly wrangling between two groups in the Congress over seat-sharing? Was it not avoidable? AK : It is a closed chapter. And there is no need for a post-mortem. We (I and A factions) have started working together as you yourself can see all across the State. I am looking into future and not past. Past is Past.

* Are you the chief ministerial candidate of the UDF or will the newly elected MLAs choose their leader, as stated by Karunakaran? AK : There is no chief ministerial candidate...In fact, chief ministership or chief minister candidate is not a dispute. I have been entrusted with the task of dethroning the Left Democratic Front Government. It is my single point agenda which was reinforced by the public reaction against the LDF that I witnessed during the Kerala Mochana Yatra. It's not the anti-incumbency factor. Also I don't claim that all votes polled for UDF will be that of our sympathisers alone. The hate of the people towards the Nayanar Government is sure to translate into UDF votes. So, what I mean is that, the issue of chief ministership is not relevant at this point of time, The UDF's prime objective is to oust the LDF from power.

* Karunakaran has charged that you were a thorough failure as chief minister and leader of the Opposition. Your comment? AK : No Comments. (An Antony smile weakly dawns)... You won't get anything from me...especially anything that would spark off a debate.

* Cherian Philip has driven home the point that old guards like you and Oommen Chandy should leave the electoral fray to make way for young leaders. CPM has done it. Your comment? AK : If he (Cherian) feels so strongly about it (veterans making way for youth), then why did he accept the help of LDF whose team is being led by 76-year-old V.S. Achuthanandan. I am only 60. I think that explains it.

* You are known to stand for probity in public life. But you didn't raise a finger against fielding a convicted leader like Balakrishna Pillai and chargesheeted leaders like T.H. Musthafa and T.M. Jacob. Doesn't it show the wide gap between your word and deed? Will such tainted leaders be given ministerial berths once you are elected to power? AK : Even the head of a family will find it extremely difficult to ensure good character in all his children. But they are not thrown out of the household. Similarly, wrongs committed by leaders of UDF constituents will be corrected. Moreover, none will have room for corruption if we come to power. As to whether they will be given ministerial berth, let's wait for the results. Are there not any tainted names in the LDF list? The Left encourages all wrongs as is evident from certain names in the list. The UDF will not encourage graft.

* The BJP has not fielded a candidate in Cherthala? Doesn't it indicate a covert deal between you and the BJP? AK : This is a Left allegation to divert the attention of the electorate. The LDF need not try to scare me with the BJP theory. The BJP may not be fielding it's man, but the candidate of Samata Party, an NDA ally, is in the fray.

* What will be your priorities as Chief Minister? What are the plans up your sleeves to accelerate industrial development and check unemployment? AK : Ours will be a development-oriented rule. We will release our manifesto on April 26. During the LDF rule, the State has witnessed drought in all spheres. Growth in industrial, agricultural and commercial sectors has come to a standstill. Unemployment has increased manifold. When Nayanar assumed office, it was 32 lakhs. Today there are 42 lakhs youths without jobs in Kerala. The UDF will uplift the State from its present plight.

* Will you reconsider the new abkari policy of the LDF Government and restore IMFL sales to private hands? Any plan to ban toddy or IMFL as the next step towards enforcing total prohibition? AK : We will definitely reconsider it, as the new abkari policy is a CPM plot to mint money even when they are in the Opposition. The move to hand over distribution of toddy to cooperative bodies is example enough to prove the Left motive. We apprehend widespread supply of hooch through this channel. So we will not hand over toddy distribution to co-op bodies. Also, the UDC will not revoke the ban slapped on arc.

* How will you clear the mess in the education sector. Will the private sector have a dominant role in professional/higher education? AK : Let us be realistic. Everyone knows that the revenue collected from the State is not even enough to pay the salary to State Government employees. Now there is the additional burden of interest on huge loans. After all these commitments, nothing is left for development activities. The UDC Government will not disinfest establishments that are in the public sector. But we will solicit private participation in education to maintain the high quality. Similarly, private investment will be invited in other sectors like industry, tourism and transport. But the KSRTC will remain in the public sector. The UDF will also try to tap the immense investment potential of non-resident Keralites. They will be given opportunities to invest in their homelands.

Courtesy: NIE