Kerala: UDF trains gun at LDF government

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was in 'deep sleep. He said this had brought the administration to a standstill.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 16: Training gun at the seven-month-old LDF government in Kerala, Congress-led UDF on Friday said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is in "deep sleep unmindful of issues" and administration has come to standstill due to fight between top government officials. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said senior IAS officers and IPS officers in the state were at loggerheads and "this has virtually brought the administration to a standstill."

"I doubt whether there is a government in Kerala now.The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is in deep sleep unmindful of issues including fight between officers, disruption in supply of food items through ration shops and non-cooperation strike by government doctors," Chennithala told reporters here.

Chennithala said Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) K A Abraham and Principal Labour Secretary Tom Jose were on one side while Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Director Jacob Thomas was on the other. Referring to letters written by Abraham and Thomas to the Chief Minister accusing each other of "attempting vengeance," Chennithala said the chief minister was keeping "silent on the matter and has failed to resolve the issue."

Alleging that state Vigilance was now on "ventilator," Chennithala said the anti-corruption agency has not yet submitted the 'quick verification report' against CPI-M leader and former Industries Minister E P Jayarajan, in a case related to the appointment of one of his relatives in a top position in a public sector undertaking.

"Ration shops in the state have virtually stopped functioning," he said adding "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has caused notes poverty with his lopsided policy and LDF government has created rice scarcity due to mismanagement of ration system."

Vijayan assumed office as the Chief Minister of Kerala of 25 May 2016 after being elected as the leader of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). He is a member of the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and won assembly polls from Dharmadom constituency.

PTI