LPG shortage: Campaigning at tea shops fails to gather steam in Kerala | Kochi News
KOCHI: Screenwriter Sreenivasan gave a big political mileage to kattan chaya (black tea) and parippuvada (lentil fritters) with Sandesham but tea shops and restaurants, especially those in villages, had long played a crucial role in defining Kerala’s socio-political and cultural convictions. When another election campaign reaches business end, these casual hangouts turn vibrant. However, LPG shortage has forced many tea shops to down their shutters this time.Until around two decades ago, before social media started eating into our leisure time, tea shops and restaurants were places where people assembled and shared their socio-political and cultural understandings and debated over them.
“Tea shops even put boards stating ‘political debates are not allowed’ as arguments often became intense and ended in scuffles,” political commentator A Jayashankar said. “Until a few years ago, there was a restaurant named Bridge near Marthanada Varma Bridge in Aluva. It presented communist party as undivided even after the split, with framed pictures of all prominent leaders adorning its walls. It seemed the restaurant’s owner was not ready to accept the split,” he added.Still, tea shops and restaurants continue to be key stopovers of candidates during campaigns. “I used to visit various tea shops in different parts of the city including near International Hotel, Shenoy’s theatre, high court and Ernakulam Siva temple areas. It’s part of my daily affairs. Such visits assume much significance during elections. It’s where we can meet a cross section of voters at one go,” said Ernakulam MLA T J Vinod, who is eyeing a third win. “Many tea shops in the city have been closed due to LPG shortage. It has reduced our space for campaign to a certain extent,” Vinod said.Water resources minister and Idukki MLA Roshy Augustine visits several tea shops during campaigning every day. “If we attend an election campaign organised by our front or party, the audience will comprise only our supporters. At a restaurant or tea shop, we can meet people with diverged political views,” Augustine said. “However, there is a shrink in the number of tea shops due to lack of LPG,” he said.
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Should the government take measures to support tea shops facing LPG shortages?
Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath, who is seeking a fresh mandate, said, “When I went to a restaurant in Sreemoolanagaram, its owner told me that he might have to close it down in a couple of days as LPG is unavailable. It’s sad as he requires around Rs 4,000 to purchase medicine every month. Besides, he is the sole breadwinner of the family.”
