By – Aditya Shrivastava
The political temperature in Kerala has soared as senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of large-scale nepotism in the appointment of ministerial staff. The controversy has sparked a fresh political debate, with both BJP and Congress criticizing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s administration.
Allegations of Favoritism and Pension Misuse
Addressing the media, Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that ministers in the LDF government have been appointing their relatives and loyal party workers as personal staff. These appointments, he claimed, are not merely for administrative support but are a means to secure government pensions and other state-sponsored benefits using taxpayers’ money.
“This is the ‘Pinarayi Model of Nepotism’, where loyalty is rewarded with permanent financial security at public expense,” Chandrasekhar stated.
He further revealed that during the LDF’s first term from 2016 to 2021, as many as 557 individuals were appointed as personal staff to various ministers. According to him, these staff members often resign after just two and a half years, enabling a new batch of loyalists to be inducted — thus expanding the circle of beneficiaries eligible for lifelong pensions.
Cross-Party Condemnation
Interestingly, criticism hasn’t come from the BJP alone. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Sunny Joseph also lambasted the government, stating, “The ministers are distributing massive pension benefits under the guise of official appointments. This is a betrayal of the public trust and financial accountability.”
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Tourism, Suresh Gopi, also voiced concern over the tradition of ministers having personal staff. “These staffers work for just a few years and walk away with a lifetime of benefits. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens struggle to access their rightful pensions,” Gopi remarked.
No Official Response from Government Yet
Despite the growing uproar, neither Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan nor the CPI(M) leadership has issued any official statement in response to the accusations. The silence from the government side has only intensified the criticism, with both national parties demanding transparency and accountability in appointments.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
The revelations and subsequent reactions have stirred political waters in Kerala, with public sentiment on social media platforms increasingly questioning the ethics of the ruling government. The phrase ‘Pinarayi Model of Nepotism’ has begun to trend in political discourse, symbolizing the alleged misuse of official positions for personal or political gain.
Political analysts believe this controversy may impact the LDF’s public image ahead of upcoming local and national electoral battles. “What was once considered a clean administration is now facing serious allegations of systemic abuse,” said a senior political commentator.
As the opposition continues to mount pressure and demand a detailed probe, it remains to be seen how the Kerala government will respond to these mounting charges and whether reforms in the appointment of ministerial staff will be initiated.