Leftist Student Organizations Rally Against UDF Government in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, June 24: After nearly a decade, the streets of Kerala witnessed renewed activity from leftist youth and student organizations. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students Federation of India (SFI) organized statewide protests on Wednesday against the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government, resulting in clashes with police in several locations.

Since 2016, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has maintained power under the Left Democratic Front (LDF), leading to a lull in their traditional activist movements. However, following the UDF’s victory in the May assembly elections and the appointment of V.D. Satheesan as Chief Minister, leftist organizations have returned to the streets.

On Wednesday, DYFI activists accused the UDF government of corruption in its decision to grant tax concessions to liquor companies. In response, police deployed water cannons and resorted to baton charges to disperse the protesters.

These demonstrations were organized following a statement from the party’s state secretariat, led by CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan. This is considered DYFI’s first coordinated statewide movement since their defeat in May.

Meanwhile, SFI activists marched to the state secretariat in protest against fee hikes in cooperative educational institutions, creating tense situations in various areas. Reports indicate that DYFI and SFI members damaged billboards featuring images of Chief Minister Satheesan and leaders of Congress-supported organizations.

Political observers believe that Wednesday’s protests signal the beginning of an aggressive campaign by the CPI(M) as the opposition. Since the UDF government took office on May 18, leftist parties have been closely monitoring government decisions and the budget.

The return of DYFI to the streets has also revived memories of some of its past militant movements. One notable incident involved a raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the rented residence of the opposition leader during an investigation linked to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, which resulted in attacks on returning officials and multiple arrests.

While Wednesday’s protests did not escalate to that level, they clearly communicated that after a decade in power, the CPI(M) is now stepping back into its role as the opposition, reactivating street politics in the process.