Decode Politics: Why Pinarayi Vijayan is facing blowback over Koshy report before elections

What is Koshy panel?

The Koshy Commission was constituted by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in November 2020 to examine the educational and economic backwardness and welfare of Christians in the state.

The panel was formed in the run up to the April 2021 state Assembly elections at a time when some Christian groups had raised a question over large parts of the welfare schemes meant for minorities being availed by the Muslim community in the state. Christians and Muslims account for about 18.5% and 26.5% of the state’s population, respectively.

While the commission submitted its report to the Vijayan government in May 2023, the government has yet to make it public, fuelling speculation that the panel’s findings may put the government on the back foot. The minority welfare department has not shared the report even under the Right to Information Act, maintaining that it would do so only when the government clears its publication.

Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Vijayan government had appointed a committee for implementation of the Koshy panel’s recommendations, but its details have not been made public so far.

Why Koshy report is in spotlight?

Last Thursday, Vijayan flagged the Koshy panel report, telling a press conference that his government has taken all possible steps to implement its recommendations.

The CM claimed that of the total 329 recommendations made by the panel, 220 have been implemented by various departments. He said a high-level meeting will be held on February 6 to deliberate on the remaining recommendations for a decision.

“The government has reviewed the implementation of the recommendations and steps have been completed on 220 of them. Various departments have taken steps to bring seven recommendations before the consideration of the Cabinet. Procedures have been completed on all recommendations which can be considered as per the prevailing laws,” Vijayan said.

“With regard to implementing the remaining recommendations, changes in the existing central/state norms have to be made or consent from other departments have to be obtained. There is no reason for anxiety. A meeting in this regard will be held on February 6,’’ he said.

What is the Church’s reaction?

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has raised doubts about Vijayan’s claims, calling it a “poll time tactic” to win over the Christian community.

Since the submission of the panel report, the Christian organisations, especially the Catholic Church, have been demanding its publication.

Father Michael Pulickal, secretary of the KCBC Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance, said: “All actions claimed to have been taken by the government on the Koshy Commission report are suspect. One has to doubt that the impending Assembly elections is behind the statement of the Chief Minister. We have been demanding that the report be published. We are completely in the dark about its recommendations that have been implemented. We are forced to assume that the government is repeatedly making baseless claims. This is a move aimed at the elections.’’

Why has BJP turned up heat?

The BJP, which is trying to connect with the Christian community, has actively joined the debate, demanding that the Koshy report be published.

State BJP vice-president Shone George claimed that while the LDF has implemented the report of Paloli panel (formed to implement the Sachar Committee report on Muslim backwardness) within 28 days after its submission in 2008, it has been sitting over the Koshy panel report for the last 32 months. “The CM should reveal what benefits Christians have got from the Koshy report’s implementation,” he said.

George alleged that the LDF government did not indulge in any “hide and seek game” while implementing the Sachar panel report in the state. “Madrasa teachers were given various benefits, but the same was not given to teachers in Christian Sunday schools. Secularism in the state demands a social audit,’’ he said.

What is LDF’s position?

In the recent local body elections, the LDF had suffered a loss at the hands of the Congress-led UDF in various regions including Central Kerala, where the Christian presence is significant. This region had backed the LDF in the 2021 Assembly elections, helping it to create a record by winning the polls for consecutive two terms.

The row over the Koshy report flared up in the wake of the local body elections, with the LDF ally Kerala Congress (M), a regional Christian party, facing internal pressure to cross over to the UDF now.

The Congress, the lead player of the UDF, which had faced erosion of Christian votes in 2021, now seems to be on course to win back the community’s support.

For the Left, the Koshy panel report may be a tightrope walk as it would have to ensure that its implementation does not upset other communities. The issue of alleged discrimination in distributing minority welfare scholarships had emerged as a bone of contention before the 2021 elections, causing a strain in ties between the Muslim and Christian groups. This had partially contributed to the LDF victory in 2021 as a section of Christians feared that if the UDF is voted to power, the IUML may become a key player in the Congress-led alliance.

After assuming office for the second term, Vijayan had taken over the minority welfare department, which used to be allotted to a minister from the Muslim community over the years. However, in 2023, the department was allotted to V Abdurahiman, the minister for haj, waqf and sports.

Some Christian groups in Kerala have also been upset with the LDF government over its bid to move the Supreme Court to challenge a 2021 high court order which had quashed the 80:20 ratio of minority scholarship for students in the state (80% for Muslims and 20% for Christians). The high court had ruled that scholarships should be distributed among minorities in accordance with their population proportion.