Chief minister Oommen Chandy's decision to set aside Rs 10 crore for Air Kerala will one day probably rank as one of his political masterstrokes, and the best thing he ever did for Keralites, especially those who have to fly out of the state and the country on business.
Here's where Chandy's shrewdness has come into play. The airline needs the Centre' sanction and a relaxation in the rules that require a 5 year's flying experience and a fleet of 20 aircraft to qualify to operate international flights.
Also read: Air India gets wings, but needs Centre's nod to fly
But it is poll time, and Chandy has pitched the hope of an airline, which he himself kindled a few years back, ever so strongly into the Malayali psyche.
And he has deftly kicked the ball into the Centre's court. With the BJP considering it the best shot it has ever had to open an account in Kerala, the Centre will find it really difficult to brush this proposal aside brusquely, however much the pressure it will have to bear from private airlines and an ailing national carrier that sucks the blood out of Keralites.
And if the Centre really does something to give a fillip to Air Kerala, the next state government – of whichever political hue – will find it difficult to sit on it; it will have to move fast to get Air Kerala planes off the ground.
Well, it may look a little far-fetched now. But it has a flash of Chandy's political acumen; his genius is in the timing. Every political party with a stake in the Kerala electoral battle will now have to do something to help Air Kerala off the ground. Or be willing to risk losing votes in a contest that looks far from decided.
Shrewd politician that he is, Chandy has probably started off a chain reaction that no politician or party will be willing to stop.
Whether he or the UDF will stay on at the Secretariat is immaterial for God's own people; Chandy has probably clinched for the world's Malayalis a win-win deal.
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.