Kerala LPST protest: Police action at night sparks tension; DYFI rebuilds tent, Yuva Morcha to join

The protest by Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) job aspirants outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram is set to intensify on Thursday after police dismantled their hunger strike shelter and arrested action council convenor S. Valarmathi on Wednesday night.

The police action triggered an immediate response from youth activists, who rebuilt the shelter using wooden poles and tarpaulin. The protesters have vowed to continue their agitation until the government addresses their demands.

Police remove protest shelter, arrest hunger strike leader

Cantonment police reached the protest site on Wednesday night and dismantled the hunger strike shelter. They also arrested Valarmathi, whose health had reportedly deteriorated after she refused intravenous fluids during her prolonged fast.

Police said the action was taken in accordance with a notice referring to a High Court order against permanent structures. They clarified that the structure removed was a permanent frame and not a temporary tent.

As her health condition worsened, Valarmathi was forcibly shifted to hospital. Before the police action, the protesters had put up placards opposing a march led by Minister O.J. Janeesh.

Although police asked the job aspirants to vacate the site, they refused to withdraw their agitation, saying they would continue the protest even without a shelter.

DYFI rebuilds shelter, Opposition condemns police action

Workers of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) arrived at the venue in large numbers and rebuilt the pandal using wooden poles and tarpaulin.

Tension briefly escalated when police attempted to prevent the reconstruction. However, senior officers intervened and later withdrew the police personnel to the Secretariat gate.

DYFI workers also tore down flex banners put up for Minister Janeesh's march. Senior CPM leaders C.S. Sujatha and P.K. Biju visited the protest site to express solidarity with the job aspirants.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the government's handling of the agitation.

"The government is continuing the practice of using police force against peaceful protesters," he said.

Following Valarmathi's arrest, candidate Jayakrishnan took over the hunger strike along with 10 to 15 rank holders.

Yuva Morcha activists are also expected to join the agitation on Thursday. They have pledged to remain at the protest site until Valarmathi returns.

Four demands behind four-month-long agitation

The LPST job aspirants have been protesting for four months, raising four major demands. They want the government to issue appointment orders to eligible candidates before the LPST rank list expires, bring recruitment in aided schools under the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), end alleged cash-for-job practices and reduce the teacher-student ratio to 1:25.

Valarmathi had tonsured her head on October 26 before beginning her hunger strike. She had also warned against attempts to shift her to hospital, insisting that the government should address the demands instead of using force to end the protest.

"We are continuing the hunger strike not out of choice but because we want the government to take our demands seriously," she had said.

She argued that reducing the teacher-student ratio was necessary, particularly when government schools were witnessing a decline in enrolment while qualified candidates continued to wait for appointments.

Valarmathi also alleged that the government had failed to meet any of their demands despite having 45 days to examine the issues.

Chief Minister cites financial constraints

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, however, said the government was unable to accept the demand for reducing the teacher-student ratio because of its financial position.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting last week, Satheesan explained that lowering the ratio would require the creation of additional LPST posts. Corresponding posts would also have to be created in aided schools, increasing the government's financial burden.

The Chief Minister said he was deeply moved when he saw Valarmathi tonsuring her head as part of the agitation.

"When I saw her tonsuring her head, I felt very sad. My eyes filled with tears," he said.

"The present financial position of the government does not permit us to do this. We have deferred the demand to a more favourable time. We have not denied their aspirations but only explained our limitations," Satheesan added.

He said eight rounds of discussions involving him and General Education Minister N. Samsudheen had failed to resolve the dispute.

Satheesan maintained that the government had accepted the protesters' other demands and was open to further discussions. However, he reiterated that the present financial situation did not allow it to implement the proposed teacher-student ratio.

Political support grows as protesters refuse to withdraw

The agitation has also received support from leaders outside the main political fronts. Coachroah Janatha Party (CJP) leader Vijay Reddy Mallangi recently joined the protesters in a 12-hour hunger strike.

Mallangi said the candidates had remained peaceful and continued to hope that the Chief Minister would honour his word. However, he questioned the delay in resolving the dispute.

"The protesters have remained very peaceful and very hopeful that he will live up to his word. But after close to six months have passed by since the CM was sworn in, this issue has not been solved," he said.

Mallangi alleged that recruitment delays in aided schools were linked to irregularities. He called for a uniform recruitment system through the PSC