United Front (Kerala)

United Front or Aikya Munnani was a coalition of political parties in Kerala state, India, which was the ruling combine in the state from 1970 to 1979 (4th and 5th Kerala Legislative Assemblies). The front was formed by five political parties, viz. Communist Party of India (CPI), Indian National Congress (INC), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Praja Socialist Party (PSP), immediately before the 1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election. The alliance saw the inclusion a few other parties (mainly Kerala Congress) in the following years. United Front dissolved in 1979 after the constituent parties left the alliance in order to form new political alliances, viz. the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front.

Background

The 1967 election had seen the formation and dissolution of Saptakakshi Munnani, an alliance of seven parties, Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Communist Party of India (CPI), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Indian Socialist Party (ISP), Kerala Socialist Party (KSP) and Karshaka Thozhilali Party (KTP). This front was also known as the United Front. Due to internal conflicts between CPI(M) and CPI, this coalition broke in October 1969 and CPI, RSP, IUML and ISP constituted a mini-front which formed government with the external support from Indian National Congress. C. Achutha Menon was sworn in as Chief Minister on 1 November 1969. But the split in ISP and group politics within the Congress party led to the fall of Achutha Menon government on 1 August 1970. The state came under President's rule from 4 August 1970 to 3 October 1970.[1][2]

Formation of United Front

The 1970 Kerala Legislative Assembly election saw the political parties contesting mainly as three alliances. Aikya Munnani or United Front comprised CPI, Congress, RSP, IUML and Praja Socialist Party (PSP). A Left Front was led by CPI(M) which also included Samyukta Socialist Party (SSP), ISP, KDP and KSP. The third front or the Democratic Front (Janadhipathya Munnani) had Kerala Congress and Indian National Congress (Organisation) (Sanghatana Congress).

Government formation in 1970

In the 1970 election to elect the 4th Kerala Legislative Assembly, the United Front won majority and formed government on 4 October 1970 with C. Achutha Menon as the Chief Minister. Although Congress was part of the ruling combine, it did not join the ministry at first, but extended support from outside. The Cabinet was expanded on two occasions, when the Congress joined in September 1971, and to induct the nominees of the Kerala Congress in December 1975. The formal term of the government expired on October 21, 1975 but was extended on three occasions over six month periods during the Emergency. Achutha Menon continued as Chief Minister till 25 March 1977, becoming the first Chief Minister of Kerala to complete normal constitutional term.[3]

1977 to 1979

In the 1970 election to elect the 4th Kerala Legislative Assembly, CPI, Congress, IUML, RSP and Kerala Congress contested under the United Front which was supported by NDP and PSP. The alliance won 111 seats in a house of 140 (Congress–38, CPI–23, Kerala Congress–20, IUML–13, RSP–9, NDP–5, PSP–3) while the Marxists-led Opposition won just 29 seats (CPI(M)–17, Janata Party–6, Rebel Kerala Congress–2, Rebel Muslim League–3, and Independent–1).[4] Congress leader K. Karunakaran sworn in as Chief Minister on 25 March 1977. But he had to resign within a month over the controversial death of Left-leaning engineering student Rajan, who was tortured during the Emergency when he was the Home Minister.[5] A. K. Antony replaced him as Chief Minister but Antony himself resigned on 27 October 1978 to protest against his party's decision to support Indira Gandhi in the Chikmagalur Lok Sabha byelection.[6] P. K. Vasudevan Nair of CPI became the Chief Minister on 29 October 1978 but resigned on 7 October 1979 to facilitate the coming together of the CPI(M) and CPI and pave the way for the formation of the Left Democratic Front.[7] C.H. Mohammed Koya of Muslim League assumed office on October 12, 1979 but could not remain in office for long due to defection.[8] Following the resignation Koya, the State Governor dissolved the Legislative Assembly on 30 November 1979 and the State was brought under President's rule. The 1980 election witnessed further consolidation of political parties under new titles-the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front.

References

  1. ↑ Luke Koshi, Saritha S. Balan (June 19, 2017). "Kerala chronicles: When a coalition of 7 political parties came together only to fall apart". The News Minute. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ RKN (March 30, 2016). "1965-75 നിര്‍ണായക വഴിത്തിരിവിന്റെ കാലം". Thejas. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ "History of Kerala Legislature". Kerala.gov.in. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ G.S. Kartha (May 15, 1977). "A tragedy of errors". India Today. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ Haritha John, Rakesh Mehar (June 21, 2017). "Kerala Chronicles: How one missing student brought down a Congress govt in just a month". The News Minute. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  6. ↑ Minhaz Merchant (November 30, 1978). "Kerala: A sinking ship". India Today. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Kerala: Tenuous existence". India Today. September 30, 1979. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  8. ↑ Arul B. Louis, Gita Aravamudan (November 30, 1979). "Mohammed Koya: Balancing the odds". India Today. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
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