Kerala Govt's plan to hold oath-taking allowing 500 people slammed

Thiruvananthapuram: Social media is inundated with trolls and criticism soon after the newly elected CPI (M) led LDF government in Kerala released the oath-taking ceremony schedule where it has allowed 500 people to attend, which is viewed as a blatant violation of the lockdown curbs.

The anger was further fuelled after pictures of the LDF supporters celebrating with cake cutting began to circulate on social media, breaching triple lockdown guidelines. The government has decided to hold the swearing-in ceremony on May 20.

Users took to several social media platforms and criticised the government for holding the swearing-in ceremony amid a massive outbreak of coronavirus and a lockdown in the state which is in force till May 23.

Among these, the Thiruvananthapuram district where the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place is under triple lockdown due to a high rise in the number of Covid cases.

Meanwhile, the Congress has lodged a complaint against the LDF leaders led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for violating triple lockdown guidelines by gathering and celebrating the ruling front's victory by cutting the cake. The celebration was held during the Left Front meeting held at the AKG Centre on Monday. According to the complaint, the triple lockdown guidelines issued by the District Collector were violated.

The Chief Minister defended that the celebrations of the swearing-in ceremony are opposed by those with the mentality who think that no celebration is allowed.

He was responding to a media query on whether it was right to hold a swearing-in ceremony and cut a cake when people were told not to even eat together.

He further remarked that 500 invitees for a swearing-in ceremony is not a big number. However, the remark didn't sit well with several people as they slammed the chief minister for his double standards by jeopardizing the existing protocols which presently limits social gathering to 20 people.

He pointed out that this is a historic victory and should be remembered forever. He also assured that the ceremony will be held following all norms and that arrangements have been made to avoid a rush.

The Kerala chapter of the Indian Medical Association had recently appealed to the state government to hold an online or virtual swearing-in ceremony since Kerala is battling a severe COVID-19 second wave.

Health economist Rijo M John wrote on Twitter: "Kerala had an opportunity to conduct a virtual swearing-in ceremony as IMA had advised and set a good example. While the state is under lockdown, conducting a function with 500 people in one place is not in the right spirit! This also involves each MLAs travelling to participate."

Author Anita Nair said: "When the Government of Kerala has been such a glowing example on how to manage a pandemic, why would they jeopardize all the good work with one-off-key event even if it's the swearing-in? No need to prove a point. The historic win was validation enough."

The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala, to be sworn in on May 20, will have a 21-member cabinet.

Election victory celeb of #LDF2021 led by #pinarayivijayan in the midst of a triple lock down at the CPM's HQ in the heart of Trivandrum while the common man cannot step out of his home unless he has his bear necessities 2 fulfill! Democracy in #CovidIndia times! pic.twitter.com/enxZdpSLeE

— Naveen R Nair (@nav_journo) May 17, 2021

On one side we have PM Modi adamant about #CentralVistaProject and here we have CM Pinarayi Vijayan #pinarayivijayan adamant about a live audience for his swearing in. Power can make ppl non-persuasive, pandemic cool.

— GOKUL (@gokz888) May 17, 2021