The Highrange Protection Council (HPC), which emerged in the political landscape of Idukki district following the ripples created by the reports of the Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan panels on the Western Ghats, is keen to play a crucial role in the outcome of the May 16 Assembly election.
The HPC, in a tie-up with the Left Democratic Front, fielded candidates in the last local bodies elections in many panchayats and won a few seats. Though it has no plans, as of now, to field candidates in the Assembly election, its stance, either passive or active, will be decisive in the high ranges of the district.
The HPC, an umbrella organisation formed with the blessings of the Catholic Church to “protect the interest of farmers,” fielded Joice George in the Idukki seat in the last Lok Sabha election and emerged victorious with a good margin with the backing of the LDF.
The Ghats issue is no more in the limelight and the moot question now is whether the HPC will extend support to the candidates fielded by the LDF in this election.
Mr. George told The Hindu on Friday that it is the general view in the HPC that it should support the LDF candidates. The UDF government, he said, had totally failed in protecting the interest of farmers.
“The State government did not even raise the issue before the Centre, resulting in an unfavourable decision on the ecologically sensitive areas. On the title deed issue and corruption at the Ministerial level, the HPC has a known stand,” he said adding that the organisation’s views were expressed by general convener Fr. Sebastian Kochupurackel a few days back.
According to Mr. George, those who have come out of the Kerala Congress (M) now are those stood for farmers’ interest and against corruption. “Their stand is clear and the HPC extends them support,” he said. R. Manikuttan, patron of the HPC, said its stand would be against the UDF which had failed in protecting the farmers.
The Highrange Protection Council is keen on playing a major role in the Assembly election
