Barely two months into office, the V.D. Satheesan government is ramping up its examination of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration’s actions. A White Paper on Kerala’s finances highlighted financial mismanagement under the previous regime, setting the stage for a broader accountability initiative. The focus has now shifted to scrutinizing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) for alleged irregularities.
The government has formed a high-powered committee to assess KIIFB’s operations and financial commitments, particularly its off-budget financing model that has been a contentious issue. Following allegations of irregularities in PSC recruitment, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the selection process. The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. (KMSCL) is the latest entity under scrutiny after revelations of spending public funds on a tennis club membership during the pandemic.
An inquiry has been ordered into KMSCL’s expenditures, reigniting past controversies like alleged backdoor recruitment and warehouse fires. The series of fires at KMSCL warehouses during the previous government’s tenure raised suspicions of irregularities in procurement practices. The government’s actions, including the White Paper release and ongoing investigations, indicate a systematic review of the previous regime’s decisions and institutions. The political battle over governance during the LDF administration is expected to escalate in the coming months.
