Mainstream Weekly

Are Interstate Migrant Workers in Kerala Really "Guest Workers"?

A. M. Jose, Jos Chathukulam — 2026-09-19T23:32:19Z

Abstract
Kerala is home to millions of interstate migrant workers whose contributions are indispensable to the state's economy. While the term "guest workers" was introduced with the positive intention of promoting dignity and respect, this article argues that it is constitutionally inappropriate because it implies that fellow Indian citizens are outsiders. Drawing on the constitutional principles of single citizenship, freedom of movement, and the right to reside and work anywhere in (…)

- 2026

District In-Charge Ministers and the Contradictions of Democratic Decentralization in Kerala: A Critical Examination | Jos Chathukulam & A. M. Jose

A. M. Jose, Jos Chathukulam — 2026-08-15T09:17:47Z

Abstract
Kerala has long been celebrated as one of the most advanced experiments in democratic decentralization in India. The state's decentralization reforms, particularly following the implementation of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments and the People's Plan Campaign of 1996, transferred substantial functions, funds, and functionaries to Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs). District Panchayats, Block Panchayats, Gram Panchayats, Municipalities and District Planning (…)

- 2026

From Glass Ceiling Breakthroughs to Glass Cliff Vulnerabilities: Gendered Leadership, Organizational Crisis and the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) Experience in Kerala | Jos Chathukulam

Jos Chathukulam — 2026-07-14T18:15:20Z

Abstract The resignation of Ms. Shweta Menon and the full team from the leadership structure of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has reopened important debates concerning gender, representation, and institutional power within Kerala's cultural sector. While her elevation to leadership was initially celebrated as evidence of a historic breakthrough in women's representation, subsequent developments invite a more critical interpretation. This article argues that the (…)

- 2026

Beyond Enumeration: Reframing the Meghalaya Socio-Economic Review 2025 through Doughnut Economics | Jos Chathukulam & A M Jose

A. M. Jose, Jos Chathukulam — 2026-06-24T23:56:47Z

[(Abstract
The Meghalaya Socio-Economic Review 2025 seeks to present a comprehensive statistical overview of the state's developmental trajectory. However, this paper argues that the document fails to meet the analytical and normative expectations of a socio-economic review. Drawing on the framework of Doughnut Economics, the study critiques the Review's descriptive bias, conceptual limitations, and institutional omissions. It highlights the absence of engagement with Autonomous District (…)

- 2026

Kerala's Governance Challenge: Ministerial Inexperience, Bureaucratic Dependence and the Need for Knowledge-Based Democracy | A. M. Jose and Jos Chathukulam

A. M. Jose, Jos Chathukulam — 2026-06-12T13:52:31Z

Abstract: This article examines a growing contradiction in Kerala's democratic governance: elected ministers possess political legitimacy, but many assume complex portfolios without adequate sectoral experience or independent institutional support. Using the recent ministerial portfolio allocation as an illustrative case, the article argues that the issue is not individual incompetence but a structural knowledge deficit within parliamentary governance. In the absence of strong transition (…)

- 2026

When Agriculture Becomes an Unwanted Portfolio: Kerala's Agrarian Crisis and the Search for an Ecological Future | Jos Chathukulam & A. M. Jose

A. M. Jose, Jos Chathukulam — 2026-06-01T03:23:40Z

[(Abstract: The reluctance surrounding the Agriculture portfolio in Kerala's new government is not a routine episode of coalition politics. It is a revealing political symbol of a deeper transformation in Kerala's society and development model. Agriculture, once central to land relations, social reform, rural livelihoods and political mobilisation, has increasingly lost prestige in the public imagination. The crisis is no longer only about prices, productivity or farm income; it is also (…)

- 2026

Changing Nomenclature of Centrally Sponsored Schemes in India: Implications for Beneficiary Perception and Policy Effectiveness | Jos Chathukulam

Jos Chathukulam — 2026-05-22T04:29:34Z

Abstract
The evolution of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in India reflects continuous efforts by the

- 2026

From Mass Line to Managerialism: A Marxist Assessment of the 2026

Jos Chathukulam — 2026-05-12T16:40:31Z

Abstract
The recent Assembly electoral, 2026 setback of the

- 2026

Morarji Desai at 130: Leadership, Democracy, and the Ethics of Governance in Modern India | Jos Chathukulam

Jos Chathukulam — 2026-05-12T16:38:35Z

Abstract
The 130th birth anniversary of Morarji Desai provides a critical opportunity to reassess his contributions through the lens of political theory and democratic practice. As India

- 2026

Gender and Youth Underrepresentation in Kerala

Jos Chathukulam — 2026-04-10T00:38:46Z

Abstract
Despite significant advancements in human development indicators, Kerala presents a paradox in electoral representation. Women constitute more than 52% of the population, and individuals below 50 years account for approximately 66.5%. However, their representation among candidates fielded by major political fronts

- 2026