Some Random Reminiscencences of Days as a Kerala Minister

Preparatory Days in Public Life Mr. Iyer was an young Lawyer with a flourishing practice and promising future at Tellicherry. In North Malabar where he used to practise Law, there were peasant movements, working class agitations and satyagraha movements. He got involved in these operations in professional dimensions as he used to fight cases of these agitating people and as a result he was looked upon as a reliable leftist lawyer. As a result he became an acceptable leftist candidate in first general elections of 1952 in which he won. He thus became an opposition activist notable for his role in question hour and other legislative business in the house. Therefore it was during this Madras term of 1952-56 which gave him plenty of opportunity to cultivate the

power of words and to fight for peoples causes in the legislature.

From a Boy to a Man in Politics In 1956 Malabar was merged in Kerala because of the reorganisation of States. Then first elections of Kerala assembly came and Mr. Iyer stood from Tellicherry and won it. In first Kerala assembly elections the communist party secured a majority and as a result E.M.S. Namboodiripad ,leader of party formed ministry in which Mr. Iyer was made minister of cabinet. That is how Mr. Iyer was ushered into Kerala electoral politics. He was made minister for Law, prisons, Irrigation and inland navigation. Also portfolio of home and justice were handed over by E.M.S.

Problems faced by E.M.S.MINISTRY A communist party victory through the ballot was difficult to digest for the congress. This generated

mistrust and hostility among the traditional politicians, the business community. An impression was created by leading congressmen that the constitution is in danger in kerala as according to them the communists were no beleivers In the rule of law and democracy. Also the church was the antagonist of Marxists. Then came the VIMOCHANA SAMARAM meaning liberation struggle organised by a combination of forces and gang of political malcontents. They used unconstitutional tactics and were having the approval of Indian National Congress headed by Smt. Indira Gandhi and leaders like Sucheta Kriplani and other communal bodies. The main object of these gang up forces was to oveerthrow the government by sheer violence. Also the state could not use guns which it had, as this would have resulted in bloodsheds, which was precisely the object of the engineers of this melodrama and malice, to overthrow the government by forced resignation or by presidential procalmation.

Pilgrimage to Ooty Mr. Iyer the then home minister of Kerala travelled to Ooty on a mission of convincing Nehru that a crazy mobbish movement dominated by violence had gripped the state and the political leadership of which was taken by the state congress leadership in association with some communal organistions. He met Nehru on the very first day of his arrival and placed all the matter in front of him. Nehru was prima facie impressed and assured Mr. Iyer that he would condemn it. Mr. Nehru also promised to come to kerala to see things himself and take suitable steps. Mr. Nehru came after a month in July with the purpose of solving the political mess. He stayed for 3 days and met kerala cabinet twice. There he raised three main issues and desired the kerala ministry to respond. The next day cabinet met PM and apprised him of the decision to accept all three points he had proposed. The third day, the day PM was leaving, Mr. Iyer went to the Raj Bhavan as Mr. Nehru was supposed to give some solution. But Nehru only talked about the mass

upsurge but offered no solution. But later at the airport he told the press about the wall of separation between people and government and the only solution was fresh election.

End of E.M.S. Ministry The congress government at the centre imposed Presidents rule in Kerala. Mr. Iyer reaction to this was:- A monumental blunder! Democracy in danger! The evening when the orders under article 356 were received, the governor summoned the cabinet and told them politely that their ministry would cease to be. The next day there was an farewell function by secretariat officials to E.MS. And the cabinet comrades .Namboodiripad in a fine firm voice wounded the farewell speech by saying that we are going. In the next general elections the communist party failed to secure majority seats to form a government and thus sat in opposition. This was also the end of Mr. Iyers tenure as a minister but he returned to assembly to remain in opposition.

 Later on he joined back to the bar and picked up a lucrative practice and also continued his involvement in public activities.