Kerala UDF convener criticises Chief Minister over decisions and coordination

Tensions within Kerala’s ruling United Democratic Front became public on Thursday when its convener, Adoor Prakash, criticised Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan over coalition coordination. Prakash said he had learned of several government decisions through the media, despite serving as UDF convener.

He also said Satheesan, who is the front’s chairman, had not taken the initiative to convene a UDF meeting. The remarks followed the state Cabinet’s decision to appoint Indian Union Muslim League leader M.K. Muneer as chairman of the State Administrative Reforms Commission and Forward Bloc leader G.

Devarajan as the government’s representative in New Delhi. Both positions carry Cabinet rank. Prakash said there had been no discussion about the appointments and that he had not been informed.

He said he did not question the two leaders’ eligibility, but believed the UDF should have known about the decisions. He said he would convey his dissatisfaction to the Congress leadership. The convener said his criticism should not be interpreted as an attempt to blame Satheesan, but as an account of his experience.

He added that it was unreasonable to expect the Chief Minister to report every decision, while describing it as unfortunate for the UDF convener to learn of major decisions through the media. Prakash said the UDF coordination committee last met on July 30. He said decisions were pending on appointments to corporations and boards, including posts still held by people appointed by the previous CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government.

He also pointed to weak coordination in recent local-body bypolls, dissatisfaction linked to a power crisis and controversy over the Chief Minister’s chartered flight to disaster-hit Nilambur. Prakash called for a quick decision on appointing a full-time Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president.