Thiruvananthapuram, 02 Oct:
Differences within the Congress have put Kerala’s UDF government under pressure barely four months after Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan assumed office, with UDF convenor Adoor Prakash publicly questioning the process behind key appointments.
The dispute centres on the appointment of M.K. Muneer as chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission with Cabinet rank and Forward Bloc national general secretary G. Devarajan as Kerala’s special representative in New Delhi.
Prakash’s intervention has brought concerns over consultation within the ruling coalition into the open. Some Congress leaders see his criticism as reflecting broader dissatisfaction with Satheesan’s style of functioning.
Leaders and ministers considered close to AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal are reportedly unhappy with decisions they describe as unilateral. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is also said to be maintaining some distance from the government.
A senior Congress political affairs committee member questioned the allocation of a sixth Cabinet-rank position to the Muslim League, alleging that the party had not been adequately consulted.
The leader argued that the Congress, despite having 63 MLAs, was conceding important positions to coalition partners. Senior leaders who expected at least one appointment to favour the Congress were disappointed, he said.
Some leaders have sought the intervention of the party high command. Venugopal has remained silent, while critics have also raised concerns about organisational work as the KPCC and Youth Congress presidents hold ministerial portfolios.
However, ministers K. Muraleedharan and Roji M. John have supported Satheesan. Muraleedharan said necessary discussions preceded government decisions. The Chief Minister’s supporters warned that public criticism weakens coalition unity and benefits the opposition.
Meanwhile, proposed appointments include P.J. Joseph as senior citizens’ commission chairman and Mani C. Kappan as NORKA-Roots vice-chairman.
Party sources indicated that further Cabinet-rank appointments would be finalised after UDF consultations, placing coalition discussions at the centre of upcoming decisions.
