Appointment row fuels dissent within ruling Congress over Kerala CM's alleged lack of consultation

Kozhikode: The appointment of N. Seshadrinathan as the State Election Commissioner has triggered dissent within the Congress against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The allegation is that he was appointed solely at the Chief Minister's insistence, without even consulting the KPCC. KPCC General Secretary P.M. Niyas questioned why the appointment was brought before the Cabinet without being included on the agenda. Niyas alleged that Seshadrinathan has had links with the Sangh Parivar for the past 15 years. Niyas arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday and met Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Sunny Joseph to raise the issue. However, the Chief Minister did not grant him an appointment. This is being seen as an indication of dissatisfaction with the Chief Minister, reflected in Niyas' public response.

P.M. Niyas submitted a letter to Ramesh Chennithala seeking an inquiry into Seshadrinathan's alleged links with the Sangh Parivar and his social media activity. However, Chennithala has not assured him that an inquiry will be conducted. Complaints seeking the cancellation of the appointment have also been submitted to Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Niyas told Mathrubhumi that he expects a favourable decision from the Chief Minister. He also claimed that the appointment has been temporarily put on hold following the complaint. Local Self-Government Minister K.M. Shaji has backed the appointment and rejected the allegation of Sangh Parivar links. A native of Kozhikode, Seshadrinathan retired as a district judge on March 31.

Niyas has decided to continue his protest against Seshadrinathan's appointment. It is learnt that he has the support of the KPCC leadership and other senior Congress leaders. Despite his continued public remarks, the leadership has not attempted to restrain him, which is being viewed as an indication of support for his campaign against the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister had earlier faced criticism from within the Congress over the appointment of government advocates and the Budget announcement granting a tax concession on low-alcohol beverages. The present controversy is seen as a continuation of those differences. Some leaders are dissatisfied that the Chief Minister is taking decisions without adequate consultation. Apparently, that is why P.M. Niyas has not been restrained from making public statements.

Meanwhile, Kozhikode DCC General Secretary Shajir Arafath criticised Niyas. “For personal interests, judges and other respected members of society should not be branded as part of the Sangh camp. It was the result of such vested interests that the BJP secured the post of Standing Committee chairman in the Kozhikode Corporation,” he wrote on Facebook.