Kerala economy: LDF allies yet to reach consensus on 'Chinese model of privatisation'

Thiruvananthapuram: The recently announced Kerala budget has given way to several confusions within the LDF. The Kerala government’s push for the Chinese model of privatisation has come as a surprise to many. The move is rather a green signal for industrialists which would help them steer clear of cumbersome procedures in setting up their establishments. It is reported that no discussions have been held regarding privatisation plan or foreign universities neither within CPM nor among LDF allies before tabling the proposal at the budget session. This is the first time ever that such a drastic policy variation has occurred during the budget presentation of a left government in the state.

A new policy document was presented at the CPM state Conference in Ernakulam with the objective of undergoing transformation in par with the changing times. The importance of raising private capital in the higher education and industrial sectors is being upheld as the vital pillar of the party's vision for a new Kerala. The push for private universities had already gained acceptance among the party ranks. However, no prior discussions were held regarding the setting up of campuses of foreign universities in the state.

In stark contrast to its claims now, the CPM had earlier opposed the coming of foreign universities to the country by claiming that it would eventually destroy the prevailing social justice in the education sector. 

“CPM is still against globalisation. To my knowledge, the party has never opposed private capital accumulation. And has no plans to oppose the process in the future as well. While the latest Kerala budget has stressed the importance of the private sector, a few of the detractors are claiming that CPM has been traditionally against it. But these claims are bogus, the party has never held strikes against the private sector as such. Neither have we ever said that the sector shouldn’t exist. Remember, the sector has been thriving since the time of EMS,” said CPM state secretary MV Govindan.