Congress and BJP Silent as Centre Moves to Split Palakkad Railway Division

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress and BJP in Keralam have failed to raise even a finger against the Centre's decision to split the Palakkad Railway Division in a move allegedly aimed at serving the interests of the Karnataka government. The division is being reorganised soon after the Centre confirmed that the long-pending Kanjikode railway coach factory project would not be implemented, with the latest move allegedly favouring BJP interests in Karnataka.

The transfer of the Mangaluru region to the Mysuru Division is expected to cause the state significant revenue losses and create major difficulties for Keralam. Chief Minister VD Satheesan, UDF MLAs and UDF MPs have not responded to the issue in any meaningful manner and have instead supported the BJP-led decision. The development has been described as evidence of a BJP-Congress alliance, with the two parties seeking to weaken Keralam economically and subsequently use the resulting problems as an electoral issue.

The Congress and BJP had jointly criticised the previous LDF government over the Vizhinjam port project, but both have remained silent over the division of the Palakkad Railway Division. BJP leaders reportedly declined to comment when questioned by the media.

The Congress is seeking to retain power through an understanding with the Sangh Parivar after winning votes from the people of Keralam while pushing them into greater hardship. The Centre allegedly received an assurance that the state government would not oppose the railway reorganisation after the UDF came to power, following which the order transferring the Mangaluru region to Mysuru was issued late at night.

The move could eventually be used as a justification to abolish the Palakkad Division altogether on the grounds of declining revenue.

The transfer of Mangaluru to Mysuru is also being described as another example of Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan's failure to protect the interests of the constituency. His inability to secure the Kanjikode coach factory has also been attributed partly to his alleged failure as an MP. Sreekandan is a member of the Railway Ministry's Consultative Committee. MPs from northern Keralam, E T Mohammed Basheer and Rajmohan Unnithan, are also members of the committee. The committee is primarily responsible for bringing issues concerning new trains, stoppages, railway divisions and development projects to the attention of the Railway Minister and officials.

The critics have questioned how the MP could fail even to prevent the separation of the Palakkad Railway Division despite being a member of the committee.