Thiruvananthapuram: UDF convener Adoor Prakash has publicly criticised chief minister V D Satheesan over what he described as a lack of consultation within the coalition, saying that several key decisions were being taken without informing the front leadership.Prakash said he shared the dissatisfaction among UDF workers over the continued delay in replacing people appointed by the previous LDF govt as chairpersons of boards and corporations. He demanded that UDF nominees be appointed to these posts at the earliest.“I am with the dissatisfaction among the workers on this issue,” the UDF convener said, referring to the delay in making changes at boards and corporations even months after the UDF govt assumed office.He also criticised the manner in which recent cabinet-rank appointments were decided. The appointments of IUML leader M K Muneer as chairman of the administrative reforms commission and Forward Bloc leader G Devarajan as the state govt’s special representative in Delhi were made without consulting him as UDF convener, he said.Prakash clarified that he was not questioning the eligibility of either Muneer or Devarajan. “They are both deserving people. I am not saying this to oppose them. But UDF should have been informed and there should have been consultation,” he said.He said UDF had not been meeting regularly and attributed this to the chief minister, who is also the front’s chairman, not initiating the process. Prakash said there were several issues that needed to be discussed and decided collectively.“Many things are being implemented without any discussion. There are situations where I am unable to answer questions about the front because I am unaware of the decisions,” he said.Prakash said he would convey his dissatisfaction to the AICC leadership, while clarifying that his remarks should not be viewed simply as an attempt to blame the CM. He said he was speaking based on his experience as UDF convener and because he felt there was no point in keeping the concerns hidden any longer.On the recent local body byelections, the UDF convener admitted that there was inadequate coordination. He said he had visited several districts for campaigning despite receiving no specific direction from the leadership.He also referred to the controversy in Chirayinkeezhu, saying it had caused dissatisfaction among party workers. The electricity crisis was another issue that affected the front’s prospects, he said.Prakash said chief minister Satheesan should explain the circumstances surrounding his chartered flight travel in a manner that would convince the public.
