Days after Kerala’s recent elections, the state has witnessed the return of power cuts and a proposed increase in milk prices, contradicting the ruling Left Democratic Front’s promises of uninterrupted power supply and stable prices. The implementation of half-hour load shedding, a departure from recent years, has begun in the state. Additionally, the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, Milma, has decided to raise milk prices from Rs 52 to Rs 56 per litre, a move that will be conveyed to the government.
The reintroduction of power cuts and the planned hike in milk prices have sparked significant political discussions, as these issues were pivotal to the Left’s election campaign narrative. The Left Democratic Front, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, had emphasized uninterrupted power supply and controlled essential commodity prices as achievements of its governance model. The sudden shift in these aspects just before the election results, set to be announced on Monday, holds political weight.
Milma, established in 1980 under Operation Flood, operates as a three-tier cooperative involving over 10.6 lakh dairy farmers through 3,102 societies. It plays a crucial role in Kerala’s dairy self-sufficiency and cooperative success. The decision to revise milk prices, amidst rising input costs, is expected to be addressed with the Election Commission of India due to the Model Code of Conduct in place until May 6.
The timing of these developments, post-election, presents a contrast to the pre-election promises, potentially impacting public perceptions of governance. While the implications of these changes on Kerala’s political landscape remain uncertain, they have added a new dynamic to the state’s closely contested political scenario.
