Danger ahead

Sir — Warnings have been issued with regard to Cyclone Tauktae, which is forming in the Arabian Sea and threatens several states in India such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. The Centre and the state governments must ensure that coastal areas are evacuated and storm shelters are kept ready — the risks posed by the pandemic cannot be ignored either. All citizens, too, must stand as one in the face of this calamity.

Arup Mondal,

Howrah

Read the signs

Sir — The article, “The southern stars” (May 14), written by Santosh Kumar, has rightly pointed out that the victory of the Left in Kerala for two terms in a row is more important than Mamata Banerjee’s win in Bengal. In spite of being beaten in the 2019 general elections — the Left won one seat while the Congress-led coalition swept the other 19 — the formidable managerial skills of Pinarayi Vijayan helped the Left achieve a landmark victory in Kerala in the recently concluded assembly polls.

In the last five years, Kerala has faced floods, cyclones and epidemics. Vijayan delivered relief, rescue and welfare in these times of distress. As chief minister, his hard work and public relations skills have been commendable. In effect, the Congress was defeated by Vijayan’s political strategy and performance.

Many had hoped that Rahul Gandhi, a parliamentarian from Kerala, would play a pivotal role in bringing the Congress to power but the people of Kerala dashed that hope. It must be noted that the voters also nipped the Sabarimala issue raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the bud. In this crucial hour, Vijayan will play a stellar role for the party, making Kerala a modern state.

Jayanta Datta,

Hooghly

Sir — In the article, “The southern stars”, Santosh Kumar has remarked that the return of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, under the leadership of M.K. Stalin, after a decade in Tamil Nadu and a consecutive second term for the Left in four decades in Kerala, under Pinarayi Vijayan, are likely to be more decisive for India in next five years than Mamata Banerjee’s win in Bengal since the DMK upholds the principles of social democracy and the Left has been ideology-driven. In contrast, the Trinamul Congress is devoid of ideology and dictated by Banerjee only. In the same breath, he admitted that Banerjee poses a formidable challenge to the Modi-Shah duo. Indeed, the TMC thrives on Banerjee’s popularity and charisma. But political violence surrounding every election has affected her image as a constitutional democrat.

At a time when the mismanagement of the pandemic has exposed the BJP government at the Centre and states ruled by the party, the chance of winning future elections is almost bleak — the results of the Uttar Pradesh panchayat election are a sign. It is time to get rid of the BJP.

Jahar Saha,

Calcutta