100 days, 100 disputes: VD Satheesan Govt to hit first milestone tomorrow

Thiruvananthapuram: A hundred disputes, a hundred days of preparation, V D Satheesan's government completes its hundredth day in office on Tuesday. Sworn in on May 18, the administration set out to fulfil its promises, accompanied by no shortage of controversy and criticism. Satheesan recognises that his political success hinges on avoiding the path taken by Pinarayi. When candidate protests dragged on in front of the Secretariat, the Chief Minister’s assurance, “I will hold further discussions myself,” reflected this clear awareness. He also revived the practice of holding press conferences to explain Cabinet decisions.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala took the lead and earned applause during the government's first 100 days with his energetic approach. K Muraleedharan was another standout performer, earning praise for his constructive leadership within his department. However, the cold war and friction that began over the chief ministerial appointment remain an unhealed scar. Several departments have yet to get on track, with two ministers taking 90 days just to appoint their private secretaries.

Appointments to boards and corporations remain pending. Minister Sunny Joseph brought early disrepute to the government by appointing a relative to his personal staff, while standing counsel appointments faced widespread allegations. The appointment of a defense lawyer from the Sabarimala case as the Devaswom standing counsel proved particularly troublesome, drawing accusations of "saffronisation" from the Opposition, a charge echoed by a KPCC office-bearer, proving that internal strife persists.

The opposition also carries the sting of being called to account for its past administrative actions and facing targeted investigations. Since the Chief Minister uses his word as his primary weapon, the Opposition's mission has been to erode that credibility. Over the past 100 days, the government has managed to hold its ground in comparison to the previous Left administration. However, the days ahead will be judged on this government’s record alone.