Thiruvananthapuram, July 18: Within just two months of taking office, the V.D. Satheesan government has accelerated its review of decisions made during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration. This initiative is viewed as a significant accountability campaign by the government.
The campaign began with a white paper on the state’s financial situation, which highlighted Kerala’s economic challenges and accused the previous administration of financial mismanagement over the years. Alongside this, the government indicated that it would investigate decisions made by its predecessor.
Following this, the focus shifted to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The government established a high-level committee to review its operations, borrowing, and financial commitments. The off-budget funding model of KIIFB has long been a topic of political controversy.
Next, allegations of irregularities surfaced regarding the recruitment process of the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) by the State Planning Board. It is claimed that a merit list was prepared without evaluating answers to ten questions. The investigation is currently being conducted by a special investigation team (SIT) of the crime branch, which has seized documents related to the question paper, answer key, candidate list, and on-screen evaluation process.
Now, the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL) has also come under investigation. This agency, responsible for procuring medicines and medical equipment for government hospitals, is facing a comprehensive inquiry ordered by the health department.
The investigation is prompted by documents revealing that KMSCL spent ₹1.9 million of public funds on a 25-year corporate membership for the Thiruvananthapuram Tennis Club, even during the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s severe financial crisis.
Old controversies related to KMSCL have resurfaced during the investigation. The corporation faced accusations of making 186 appointments without informing the PSC of vacancies and without issuing notifications through the employment office, which the opposition labeled as alleged ‘backdoor recruitment.’
Additionally, incidents of fires occurring in KMSCL warehouses during the previous LDF government’s term are once again under scrutiny. These incidents resulted in the destruction of large quantities of medicines and medical supplies. At that time, the opposition alleged that these fires might have been an attempt to destroy evidence related to procurement irregularities during the pandemic. Although these allegations remain unverified, the repeated incidents of arson have raised questions about the corporation’s operations.
The white paper, the review of KIIFB, the crime branch investigation into the PSC recruitment controversy, and now the inquiry into KMSCL indicate that the V.D. Satheesan government is systematically reviewing the major decisions and institutions of the previous LDF administration.
Meanwhile, the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI), established after the devastating floods of 2018 and funded by a significant loan from the World Bank, may soon come under investigation as well. There are indications that the accountability of the funds utilized and associated activities will also be scrutinized.
– D.S.C.
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