Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday voiced dissatisfaction over the delay in being allotted his official residence, criticised the government's handling of disease-control measures and raised concerns about developments in the higher education sector.

Speaking at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said the opposition would extend all possible support to the government in tackling public health challenges, while also questioning what he described as lapses in administration and governance.

‘Cantonment House has still not been vacated’

Vijayan expressed displeasure over not being given possession of Cantonment House, the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, more than a month after the Assembly election results were declared.

He said he was forced to hold the press conference at the AKG Centre because the official residence and office facilities attached to the post had not yet been made available to him.

Vijayan said he had vacated Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, at the earliest opportunity after the election results, but Cantonment House had still not been handed over.

“I vacated Cliff House as quickly as possible. I do not know when the Chief Minister will move into Cliff House. Repairs may be required there as well,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said the delay had left him staying in a temporary rented house in Thiruvananthapuram. He also pointed out that maintenance work is usually carried out before a new occupant moves into an official residence and said similar repairs may be required at Cantonment House.

Opposition will support Nipah fight, says Vijayan

Vijayan also criticised what he described as a continuing lack of coordination between the Health Department and district-level authorities in dealing with diseases such as Nipah and Shigella.

He said the opposition was not prepared to use the Nipah outbreak as a political issue and would provide all possible support to the government in efforts to contain the disease.

At the same time, Vijayan alleged that confusion persisted among those responsible for managing the situation and said concerns he had raised earlier had not received an appropriate response from the Health Minister.

Recalling previous outbreaks during LDF governments, he said health ministers had camped in affected areas whenever serious disease outbreaks occurred. He noted that four days had passed since the latest Nipah case was confirmed and claimed the level of vigilance seen in earlier instances was not evident now.

Vijayan also said elected representatives should be involved in disease-control efforts and alleged that there was a tendency to keep them away from control rooms.

He questioned the transfer of officials during a critical period and criticised remarks made by the Health Minister regarding administrative issues. Referring to concerns over transparency, he said there were suspicions that attempts were being made to revive practices involving large-scale transfers of posts.

Commenting on discrepancies in cholera-related data, Vijayan said conflicting statements from health authorities were creating confusion.

“When the Health Minister gives one figure and the District Medical Officer rejects it, whom should the public believe?” he asked.

He further alleged that the Health Minister was attempting to shift responsibility onto officials and said disease outbreaks do not occur based on which political party is in power.

Raises concern over developments in higher education

Vijayan criticised the UDF government over developments in the higher education sector, alleging that it was not resisting what he described as Sangh Parivar influence in universities.

He referred to the inclusion of certain persons whom he described as Sangh Parivar supporters in the Senate of Mahatma Gandhi University and said the UDF had not opposed the move.

According to Vijayan, the Higher Education Department's stated position of avoiding confrontation with the Governor amounted to accepting the Governor's approach. He alleged that the government had not opposed appointments and decisions linked to the Governor and claimed that the UDF leadership had remained silent on the issue.

Vijayan said concerns over Sangh Parivar influence in universities had been raised earlier as well and claimed that the Left had strongly resisted such developments in the past.

He also referred to the participation of three vice-chancellors from Kerala in an RSS event, describing it as a matter that should be viewed seriously.

According to Vijayan, the presence of the vice-chancellors at the programme reflected attempts to advance an RSS agenda in higher education institutions. He questioned why neither the Chief Minister, ministers nor UDF leaders had publicly responded to the matter.

“The Governor’s approach has not changed. Why is the government leadership not challenging these developments?” Vijayan asked.

Handling of wildlife attacks

Vijayan also criticised the government's handling of wildlife attacks, noting that six people had lost their lives in such incidents within the past three weeks.

"Whenever questions are raised about solutions, the response from those responsible has been one of ridicule rather than accountability," he alleged.

Referring to the death of an Adivasi woman in a wild elephant attack at Suriyanelli, Vijayan claimed authorities had failed to act despite warnings from local residents about elephant movement in the area.

He said the solution to the human-wildlife conflict lay in amending wildlife laws, a proposal put forward by the previous LDF government but not supported by the UDF.

Vijayan also alleged that the UDF had promised to increase compensation for deaths caused by wildlife attacks from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 21 lakh, but had so far "failed" to implement the commitment.