Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF in Kerala on Friday criticised the LDF over the state’s public health system and the Sabarimala gold scandal, accusing the government of widespread administrative failures.

At a press conference, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan cited the death of Kollam resident Venu at the Government Medical College Hospital two days ago as "the latest victim of the failure of the public health system." He said Venu, who had suffered a heart attack, was not treated for more than 24 hours, as evident from an audio message recorded by the patient and the family’s reaction.

Satheesan claimed this was not an isolated incident, pointing to recurring shortages of medicines and medical equipment in government hospitals and medical colleges across Kerala. He demanded the resignation of Health Minister Veena George, stating that the health system had collapsed under her watch.

He also questioned the government’s inability to pay the Kerala Medical Services Corporation and private suppliers for medicines and surgical equipment, despite claims by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Finance Minister KN Balagopal that the state was not facing an economic crisis. “Companies are now reclaiming the surgical equipment provided due to non-payment of dues,” Satheesan said.

The opposition leader further alleged that joint registrars of the Cooperative Department were seeking loans of ₹2,000 crore from various cooperative banks to fund recently announced welfare schemes, accusing the LDF of pushing the state into a "huge debt trap."

Satheesan criticised the government’s handling of the PM SHRI memorandum of understanding (MoU), claiming that the state had not sent a letter to the Centre to temporarily freeze the project as promised. “If the government lacks typists or computer operators, we will provide them to type the letter,” he quipped.

On the Sabarimala gold issue, Satheesan said a recent Kerala High Court order vindicated the opposition’s earlier claims. The court indicated the presence of an art theft racket at Sabarimala, comparable to international cases.

He alleged that a former Devaswom Commissioner, re-appointed as president of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), was involved in irregularities related to the gold plating of temple artefacts. Satheesan further claimed that the government was pressuring the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to shield officials, including Vasu, from arrest.

The opposition renewed calls for the resignation of Devaswom Minister VN Vasavan and the dissolution of the TDB, accusing them of allowing Bengaluru-based businessman Unnikrishnan Potty access to temple artefacts despite being aware of his background.

On Thursday, the SIT arrested former Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornament) commissioner KS Baiju, the third TDB official to be taken into custody after former administrative officer B. Murari Babu and former executive officer Sudheesh Kumar. The prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potty, remains in SIT custody.

The SIT is investigating two related cases concerning the loss of gold from the Sabarimala temple, one involving the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols and the other concerning the door frame of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).

PTI inputs