Thiruvananthapuram: Even before formally taking oath as Kerala’s next Chief Minister, V. D. Satheesan has moved swiftly to send out a vital political message — that the era of intimidating VIP convoys, massive traffic blocks, and fortress-style security may soon become a thing of the past.
The incoming Chief Minister’s instructions to police officials on Friday to drastically trim his security arrangements are being widely seen not merely as an administrative decision, but as a carefully calibrated political statement aimed at preserving the goodwill he built while leading the Opposition.
For nearly a decade, the security arrangements surrounding then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had repeatedly come under sharp public criticism.
Particularly during the latter years of his tenure, Vijayan’s movement often involved convoys stretching to 20 vehicles, including pilot cars, multiple escort vehicles, jammer units, armed police teams, and even an ambulance trailing behind.
Roads were routinely blocked far in advance, police personnel lined entire stretches of highways, and commuters were frequently stranded for long periods as the convoy passed through cities and towns.
The aggressive crowd control measures adopted during protests, especially the intense scrutiny over black masks, black clothes and black flags, had also triggered widespread debate on whether Kerala was witnessing an excessive expansion of VIP security culture.
Both inside the Assembly and outside, the then Congress-led UDF Opposition repeatedly targeted the Vijayan government over what he termed the harassment of ordinary citizens in the name of security.
On several occasions, they accused the Vijayan administration of turning the state machinery into an instrument of fear and inconvenience for common people.
Now, with power shifting hands, Satheesan appears determined to ensure that his own tenure is projected in sharp contrast.
According to sources, the Chief Minister designate has informed senior police officials that, except for the mandatory pilot and escort vehicles, no additional convoy is required for his movement.
He has specifically instructed that roads should not be blocked and that local residents and commuters must not suffer because of his travel.
Beyond the administrative aspect, Satheesan’s move carries unmistakable political messaging.
Having risen in popularity through his sharp attacks on perceived governmental arrogance, he now appears keen to protect that carefully cultivated public image of a leader accessible to ordinary people, uncomfortable with excess and conscious that in politics, symbolism often travels faster than the convoy itself.
(IANS)
