Tuesday, May 17 2005 13:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Government in Kerala completed four years in office today (May 17, 2005), claiming that it could carry the state along the path of peace, prosperity and reform, despite stiff internal challenges it faced since the very start in 2001.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who took over the reins of power from A K Antony in September 2004, has chosen to pursue a policy of 'fast track development', undeterred by the split in the State unit of the Congress, caused by veteran leader K Karunakaran and desertion of two sulking partners - the Kerala Congress factions, led by T M Jacob and R Balakrishna Pillai.

Even as the coalition was shaken by the humiliating defeat it suffered in the last Lok Sabha polls after his take-over, Chandy has been able to impart a fresh impetus to the Government through his dynamic approach to issues.

Racing against time, Chandy has since then tirelessly toured the State with his '100-day action' plan and 'one-year programme', meeting people down the grass-root level and seeking to find on-the-spot solutions to their grievances.

On the development front, a major achievement has been the laying of the foundation stone for the International Transhipment Container Terminal project at Kochi, a long-standing demand of the State. Also, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised a big petrochemical complex would be set up in Kochi under the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL).

The Government has also set in motion a number of projects, tapping on the potential of the state's commercial hub, Kochi. They include the 'Smart City' project, sponsored by the Dubai Internet City (DIC), which has run into controversy, with the opposition alleging that the plan to offer huge stretches of land to the sponsor is fraught with corruption.

Emboldened by it's splendid performance in the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition LDF has been aggressive in attacking the Chandy Government over the last few months.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) led front has rejected the Government's claims on development, dubbing it as surviving on borrowed time, with a section in the Congress breaking out and the coalition as a whole, beginning to show signs of disintegration.

The June 2 Assembly by-elections from Koothuparamba and Azhikode segments are seen as a major test for the popularity of the Ministry and Chandy's political skills to lead the coalition through the political challenges it is faced with.