‘Leader’ or ‘Dealer’

Synonymous

 
It is part of our basic culture not to attempt an assessment during the days of mourning. But one should never avoid such an assessment for a political leader like K.Karunakaran (KK), who dominated Kerala politics for about five decades. There are many who like him, many others who dislike him and many many others who are indifferent about him. Having been the Chief Minister for four times and the leader of UDF for so long, his actions have definitely affected two or three generations of Keralites. My assessment of his contributions is as follows:-
 
1.     KK gave credibility and foothold for a party like IUML in Indian politics and a character like K.M. Maani in Kerala. After having divided India on religious lines, Muslim League was irrelevant in India and even Indian Muslims had reconciled to it fully. But KK committed the gravest mistake of giving a place of political respect to Indian Union Muslim League, purely for creating a vote-bank. It has now spread its wings and given birth to INL, PDP, NDF, JIH, Indian Mujahideen etc. If there is one more division of India , KK can legitimately claim its credit like Allamma Iqbal for Pakistan . And by giving credibility to Maani, he ensured complete destruction of the entire land revenue system of Kerala, which is now beyond repair by anyone.

2.     KK was 100% pseudo-secular and anti-Hindu. His ‘famed’ Krishna-bhakti was only a clever ploy to keep his Hindu vote bank intact. And his monthly visits to Guruvayoor were only to indulge in a vulgar display of power, which gave him immense kicks. His special foods (soup, cutlet and what not) at Rama Nilayam and all the associated idiosyncrasies prove this point beyond any doubt.

3.     KK came into politics with no education, no ancestral wealth and no worthwhile skills. Govt. of Kerala must have spent atleast 100 crores of rupees for keeping him live till the age of 93. KK enjoyed wielding power and he had no reservations about spending public money for his own benefit.  Without any toil, he has left behind a few billions for his future generations.

4.     KK took special interest in weakening all Hindu institutions, quite in line with his masters from the Nehru dynasty. Travancore Dewaswom Board was completely subjugated to governmental controls during his period. He went all out to marginalize the Nair Service Society by cleverly trapping Kidangoor into a shameful ambassadorship. After the unprecedented Hindu victory at Nilakkal, a charismatic and erudite Kidangoor was fast emerging as a Hindu leader from Kerala who could have easily overshadowed an unworthy KK.

5.     KK’s only positive contribution to Kerala was in using his Delhi leverage to get sanctions for the Kochi airport. In that too, it is almost sure he had his own ulterior motives. Verify the revenue land records in and around the area during that period to get an idea.
 
KK is credited with the elimination of Naxalites from Kerala scene. It is now upto us to think about which is better – NAXALISM or MUJAHIDISM.
 
I strongly feel that KK was more of a DEALER and definitely not a leader.

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