Ekbal Urges Parties to Shun Communalism, Restore Decency in Kerala Polls
Ekbal Urges Parties to Shun Communalism, Restore Decency in Kerala Polls
Public intellectual B. Ekbal calls for issue-based debates, secular values, and environmentally responsible campaigning to elevate Kerala's poll discourse.
Amid the heated campaigning for the Kerala Assembly elections, public intellectual and academic B. Ekbal has issued a 10-point appeal urging political parties and candidates to restore civility, secular values and issue-based debate in the electoral process. A key pillar of the proposed Ten Commandments is a strong warning against communal politics and religious emotionalism. At a time when controversies over alleged political deals have begun to dominate campaign discourse, he calls to uphold Kerala’s reputation for socially conscious politics by repositioning policy and governance as prime poll planks. Dr. Ekbal, a physician and former Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University, who once contested in the Assembly polls from the Changanassery Assembly constituency in 2011, urged candidates to avoid personal attacks and provocative language. He advised focusing on manifesto-based debates and governance issues, and to base criticisms strictly on verified facts. Ekbal lamented that the ongoing election campaign has shown little regard for pressing challenges Kerala faces across sectors such as education, healthcare, human-wildlife conflict and economic development. Instead, the discourse has been dominated by needless controversies sparked for short-term political gain, alongside a noticeable decline in standards of political decency.
In his appeal, he emphasizes a shift towards cleaner, cheaper and more responsible campaigning. His recommendations include prioritizing digital outreach over environmentally harmful campaign materials, adopting plastic-free practices, and avoiding extravagant rallies in favour of direct voter engagement. He urged parties to uphold Kerala’s long-standing secular traditions, raising concerns about religion-based messaging entering the state’s campaign narrative. The political coalitions must strive to protect the secular fabric of Kerala while focusing on issues that affect everyday life, such as education and healthcare, rather than provocative rhetoric.
Ekbal stresses that campaigning should be anchored in governance and policy, not personality clashes or manufactured controversies. He highlights the need for evidence-based criticisms and calls on media and civil society to keep the spotlight on tangible solutions for critical concerns like education, healthcare, human-wildlife conflict and economic development. The appeal aims to set a higher standard for discourse in this election cycle and to encourage a more constructive, policy-driven conversation that residents can trust.
As Kerala gears up for the polls, supporters of civil discourse hope the Ten Commandments of political conduct will inspire parties to compete on ideas and accountability, rather than division. If adopted in spirit, Ekbal’s call could reshape how campaigns are run and how voters evaluate credible governance over demagoguery.
