MARKING a historic victory, the youth organisations in Kerala ended the four-day long indefinite hunger strike led by the LDYF when all its demands were approved by the state government. The Left Democratic Youth Federation, a platform of Left and democratic youth organisations had launched a massive hunger strike in front of the State Secretariat building in Thiruvananthapuram, on the burning issues faced by the youth in the state as well as the common people. DYFI state secretary M Swaraj, AIYF state secretary K Rajan, Yuva Janata Dal state president Arun Chandi, National Youth Congress state general secretary Shenin Mandirad, Youth front state president Jaison George, Youth Congress (S) president santosh Kala had started the indefinite hunger strike from September 14. The main demands included the lifting of ban on recruitment and withdrawal of new hike in taxes. The hunger strike was inaugurated by the Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. The struggle drew the attention of all walks of people in Kerala. Leaders from various parties visited the pandal. Even Congress workers who face problems due to recruitment ban met the leaders and offered unconditional support to the struggle. Realising the fact that the struggle is gaining huge support from various sections of people, especially from the youth and rank holders organisation, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was forced to invite representatives of youth organisations for talks on October 17th night. The meeting held in the chief minister’s chamber was attended by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, representatives of LDYF – T V Rajesh MLA, G Krishna Prasad, Saih Kudathay, Sabu Khan and M S Shafi. At the end of the meeting which lasted around two hours, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other ministers were compelled to approve all the demands raised by the LDYF. The government has finally agreed to withdraw the decisions to ban recruitment and cut down the governmental posts, to appoint all who were served advice memo. All the eligible candidates in the KSRTC conductor list of PSC will be appointed soon, the government said in a written agreement. When the government did not show willingness to withdraw the tax hike, the leaders warned that the organisation will take part in all struggles demanding the roll-back of tax hike. After the meeting, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan gave lemon juice to DYFI state secretary M Swaraj marking the culmination of the struggle. CPI leader C Divakaran, Kerala Congress leader V Surendran Pillai also attended the function. Youth activists all over the state organised celebration marches.