The Communist Party of India's (CPI) purportedly "strident opposition" to the Cabinet decision to "liberalise" the production and sale of alcohol seems to signal a gathering political battle over the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's contentious liquor policy for the 2022-23 fiscal.
The perceived resistance within the ruling front to the "permissive" approach could galvanise the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition, the Church-backed prohibitionists and other religious groups into social action against the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led administration in the coming days.
The "impending" conflict could dovetail with the "animated" anti-SilverLine agitation that has the State in its grip.
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) State general secretary and former Minister K.P. Rajendran launched the first broadside against the policy. He stated it was against the LDF's manifesto and demanded that the government review it.
Mr. Rajendran said that by opening more retail liquor outlets, sanctioning the consumption of legal alcohol in IT parks and allowing more three-star bars and retail liquor outlets, the government had opened the door for the increased sale and consumption of potent spirit. The decision to sanction breweries and wineries and allow the distillation of low-proof liquor from local produce would deal the traditional toddy sector a death blow.
Binoy Viswam, MP, also reportedly struck a similar position. Kerala State Toddy Workers’ Federation [KSTWF) State working president D.P. Madhu echoed a matching sentiment.
It was unclear whether the CPI Ministers had opposed the policy in Wednesday's Cabinet. Excise Minister M.V. Govindan said he was unaware of any.
The government had sanctioned more liquor retail outlets with enhanced facilities to avoid the embarrassing and ubiquitous long queues for alcohol that conveyed a poor image of Kerala to the world.
Mr. Govindan said the sale and consumption of liquor in IT parks are limited to "techies". Such avenues of leisure are vital to attracting investment in high-tech sectors.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the LDF hoped to advantage branded liquor majors and the "abkari" lobby by drowning Kerala in alcohol. Corruption had motivated the policy shift.
In an open letter, Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran cautioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that a liberal liquor policy would wreck families and spur alcohol-fuelled crime. The Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party, and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church too opposed the policy. The Latin Catholic Church was yet to reveal its mind on the matter.
