KL This Week: People from Kerala Express Solidarity with Palestinians

NewsClick brings you a round-up of key developments from Kerala over the past week. These include the merger of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people affected by Israel's attacks, the arrival of the first ship at Vizhinjam port on October 15, the unfortunate death of a man due to an elephant attack, and the Kerala High Court's order for K Surendran, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to appear in a bribery case in the Manjeswaram Assembly constituency.

LJD MERGES WITH RJD

The LJD, a socialist party and part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), has merged with the RJD. A public meeting was held on October 12 in Kozhikode to officially announce the merger, with the presence of RJD leaders and Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav. M V Shreyams Kumar, the former president of the LJD, has been announced as the Kerala unit president of the RJD.

This move is viewed as the consolidation of socialist groups that separated from the Janata Dal at different times across the country. The LJD made the decision to merge, taking into account the RJD's firm stance against communal forces.

The LJD holds influence in various parts of Kerala and had formed an alliance with the LDF in the previous assembly election in 2021. Contesting in three constituencies, the party secured a lone legislator, K P Mohanan, who was elected from the Kuthuparamba constituency. However, Shreyams Kumar and Manyath Chandran lost in the elections for the Kalpetta and Vadakara constituencies, respectively.

SOLIDARITY FOR PALESTINIANS

Support has poured in for the people of Palestine from various political and social organisations across Kerala, led by the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. The state secretary of the party, M V Govindan, announced that the party will hold solidarity gatherings until October 20. The party also called for an end to the war, which is significantly affecting women and children.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) organised street corner meetings and rallies, advocating for peace in the West Asian region. Inaugurating a meeting in Kannur district, V K Sanoj, the state president of the youth movement, called for peace-loving countries to bring an end to the Israeli attacks on the people living in Gaza.

Other organisations, including Jamaat-E-Islami and Jamiyathul Ulama, held solidarity meetings and a Raj Bhavan march to express solidarity with Palestine.

MAN KILLED IN ELEPHANT ATTACK

In Ulikkal village in Kannur district, near the borders of Karnataka, a 71-year-old man named Jose was trampled to death by a wild elephant on October 11. His body was discovered the following day in the neighborhood. Several people, including Jose, were on the roads trying to drive away the elephant after it caused havoc in the village.

Three others were also injured during the incident, as the attempts by forest department officials to drive the elephant back into the forest proved unsuccessful. The police and forest officials succeeded in their efforts only after a 12-hour operation, which involved the use of firecrackers.

FIRST SHIP ARRIVES AT VIZHINJAM PORT

The Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) is set to welcome its inaugural ship, the Zhen-Hua, a Chinese vessel transporting substantial cranes, which will berth in the port on October 15. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the Union Minister for Shipping, Sarbanantha Sonowal, are anticipated to receive the ship during an event organised by the port authorities.

Given its natural deep port characteristics, Vizhinjam is poised to function as a transshipment port, capable of handling large vessels. Currently, India relies on major ports such as Colombo, Dubai, and Singapore for transshipment. Seven additional ships are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks.

With approximately 80% of the work in the first phase of the port nearing completion, commercial operations are projected to commence in May 2024.

COURT ORDERS BJP PRESIDENT TO APPEAR IN PERSON

The Kasargod district and sessions court has instructed Surendran, the state president of the BJP, to appear on October 25 in the case related to bribing a candidate in the Manjeshwaram assembly constituency. Surendran, who contested and lost from the constituency, along with five other local BJP leaders, is accused in the case.

Surendran has refrained from appearing in person before the court since January when the charge sheet was filed. The CPI(M) candidate, V V Rameshan, has lodged a complaint against the BJP state president, accusing him of bribing K Sundara, a candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), to withdraw from the fray by offering a mobile phone and money.