Thiruvananthapuram, 02 October (H.S.): Differences within Kerala’s ruling United Democratic Front have sharpened, with the Indian Union Muslim League expressing strong displeasure over UDF convenor Adoor Prakash’s allegation that key decisions, including the appointment of the Administrative Reforms Commission chairman, were taken without consultations within the alliance.

League leaders consider Prakash’s remarks unnecessary and ill-timed, maintaining that an understanding had already been reached to appoint senior party leader Dr M K Muneer as chairman of the commission.

According to the League’s assessment, it was inappropriate for the UDF convenor, who is responsible for convening alliance meetings, to publicly adopt a position questioning the consultation process despite the earlier agreement on Muneer’s appointment.

The criticism has brought differences over coordination within the ruling alliance into public view, with the League questioning the need for Prakash to raise the appointment issue openly.

Meanwhile, the government has issued an order appointing Muneer as chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, formalising the decision that had drawn Prakash’s criticism.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president and minister Sunny Joseph has also expressed strong displeasure over the UDF convenor’s public remarks against Chief Minister V D Satheesan.

Joseph said Prakash should have raised any grievances within the party instead of airing them publicly. He also objected to the timing of the criticism, saying the choice of Thursday to make the remarks was inappropriate.

The Congress leader further disapproved of Prakash using the KPCC office as the venue for his criticism of the Chief Minister.

The responses from the League and the Congress leadership underline their objections to the manner in which the convenor raised his concerns.

While Prakash’s criticism centred on the alleged absence of consultations, the League maintains that Muneer’s appointment had already been agreed upon. Joseph’s objections focused on the public airing of grievances, its timing and the venue chosen.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman