THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Police intervened on Friday to save Pushpakumari, a 57-year-old entrepreneur, from union harassment threatening to dismantle her brick business. Headload workers, aligned with the CPM-affiliated CITU and Congress' trade union wing INTUC, had demanded wages higher than those stipulated and had prevented other workers from operating at the kiln. This incident occurred even after the Kerala High Court had issued orders restraining such disruptions.
The situation prompted police action when the story of Pushpakumari’s struggles, which began six years ago alongside her husband Thankappan—a retired state transport employee—was reported. The couple had been forced to shut down their kiln for two days due to intimidation and unreasonable demands, causing them to contemplate ending their business altogether.
"Per the high court order, we will not allow anybody to disrupt their business," said SI Harsha Kumar, assuring protection against lawlessness. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar also criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, asserting it had failed to safeguard the interests of entrepreneurs.
After the police intervention, Pushpakumari expressed relief and determination, stating she and her husband would reopen their kiln now, thanks to police support. "All this time, the cops had refused to intervene," she lamented about the lack of timely help leading up to the court's involvement.
Meanwhile, political shifts occurred within Kerala’s Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) as Kuttanad MLA Thomas K. Thomas took the helm as party president. The announcement came from party national president Sharad Pawar on the same day as the police intervention, marking another significant move within the political scene of Kerala.
Thomas expressed his optimism, stating, "There are no major issues within the party. I will focus on unity and strengthening the party." His selection followed last month’s infighting within the party, marked by the resignation of former state president P.C. Chacko, who had sought to replace party representation within the cabinet.
Prior to Thomas’s appointment, internal tensions arose over leadership and representation, leading the factions within the NCP(SP) to unify against common challenges. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reportedly declined to support Chacko’s attempts to alter the cabinet representation, as it had become increasingly contentious. Thomas’s ascent is seen as a stabilization effort within the party, aiming to reduce discord among its members.
The push for cohesion within the NCP(SP) signals broader attempts to solidify the party’s position and improve relations with the ruling government, particularly as Thomas plans to meet with Vijayan soon. Discussions involving the party's national general secretary, Jitendra Awhad, were pivotal, as many leaders favored Thomas’s leadership for moving forward.
With the dual developments of entrepreneurial struggle and political leadership changes, Kerala navigates through complex waters, highlighting both the challenges faced by its businesses and the dynamics of local party politics. The intertwined fates of small business owners like Pushpakumari and political entities such as NCP(SP) underline the importance of stability and protection in these turbulent times. The situation remains fluid, with entrepreneurs and political leaders alike adapting to the changing landscapes around them.