Kerala: Adoor Prakash attacks CM Satheesan; ‘exposing’ UDF infighting

Thiruvananthapuram: Internal rifts within the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala came to the fore on Tuesday as front convenor and senior Congress MP Adoor Prakash launched a sharp salvo against Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, exposing growing factional friction barely six months after the coalition assumed power.

Prakash initially voiced his dissatisfaction in October, five months into Satheesan’s tenure as Chief Minister, by publicly alleging that critical government decisions were being taken without consulting him and questioning the lack of regular UDF coalition meetings.

Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Prakash escalated his criticism. When questioned regarding the infighting and the absence of UDF front meetings, Prakash directed queries to the Chief Minister, stating that the question should be put directly to Satheesan in his capacity as the front chairman.

Responding to questions concerning cabinet unity and collective responsibility, the UDF convenor made a sarcastic remark that evidence of cabinet cohesion was emerging publicly every day.

He further suggested that journalists inquire directly with cabinet ministers to determine whether they were dissatisfied with the Chief Minister's unilateral decision-making, adding that people should wait for further details to emerge in the open.

The public dispute underscores persistent challenges regarding consultation, internal communication, and administrative coordination within the Congress-led coalition, which returned to power following a decade in opposition.

The public outburst stands in sharp contrast to the decade-long tenure of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, during which open dissent within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) was rarely displayed.

Political observers note that managing coalition dynamics and factional rivalries remains a primary challenge for Chief Minister Satheesan, as internal friction threatens to undermine government stability early in his term.

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