The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) launched a blistering attack on the government in the Assembly on Thursday, accusing it of failure to resolve the simmering feud among senior bureaucrats that had brought the administration to a halt.
Armed with the sharp observations made by the High Court against the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB), Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and V.D. Satheesan, who sought leave for a discussion on the issue, said the widening rift between officials in the top echelons of the civil service had paralysed the State administration.
The UDF benches staged a walkout after the Speaker refused permission for the discussion.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan put up a stout defence, arguing that there were no serious differences between officials.
The government, he claimed, had the full support of the bureaucracy in taking development and welfare schemes forward. “There is no administrative crisis,” he maintained.
‘Mere spectator’
Moving the notice, Mr. Satheesan said the Chief Minister had been reduced to a mere spectator for five months as top bureaucrats sparred with each other and even Cabinet decisions were flouted.
Accusing the VACB of overstepping its limits, he said the High Court observation about a `Vigilance Raj’ had cast a blot on the government. Mr. Vijayan said the guidelines for the functioning of the VACB would be finalised after getting the requisite directives from the High Court. The Administrative Reforms Committee headed by V.S. Achuthanandan was working on recommendations to improve the civil service.
‘Demonetisation effect’
Mr. Vijayan clarified that the decrease in Plan spend was due to the demonetisation of currency and the elections. Before leading the walkout, Mr. Chennithala said the cold war among bureaucrats had slowed down the administration.
“The Chief Minister has not only failed to handle the situation, he has aggravated the situation by the failure to take timely action,” he said.
