Golden Jubilee celebration of Communist Govt

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 5: The Golden Jubilee celebration of the first Communist Government in Kerala began today with the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) boycotting the inaugural function.

Former chief ministers K Karunakaran, A K Antony and Oommen Chandy also stayed away from the function, which was held in the old Assembly Hall in the State Secretariat.

The UDF dissociated from the function stating that there was nothing much about celebrating the anniversary of the 1957 government headed by the late E M S Namboodiripad.

Inaugurating the celebration, Governor R L Bhatia said the 1957 government had made far-reaching impact in the socio-political field in the state.

He said Kerala had made rapid strides in several sectors during the last 50 years, raising the living standard of the people to international level.

Presiding over the function, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said his government would go ahead with people-oriented programmes such as ensuring houses to the houseless, water and electricity to all.

He said two lakh house-sites would be provided to the fisherfolk and other weaker sections in two years.

Mr Achuthanandan said the government had also taken steps to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of vegetable, milk and egg.

His Cabinet colleagues T U Kruvilla, N K Premachandran, Mathew T Thomas and C Divakaran, representing various constituents of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Speaker K Radhakrishnan also addressed the function.

Nine of the 16 surviving members of the 1957 Assembly, present on the occasion, were honoured at the function by giving them mementoes by the Governor.

Later, the Chief Minister inaugurated an exhibition of archives and manuscripts.

The CPI(M) is scheduled to take out a rally in the afternoon as part of the celebrations.

UNI