Kerala Assembly passes amendment bill for a new post for Achuthanandan
Thiruvananthapuram: Amid Congress-led UDF Opposition members' walkout, the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualifications) Amendment Bill, paving way for the appointment of CPI-M veteran V S Achuthanandan as Chairman of the proposed Fourth Administrative Reforms Commission.
The bill, moved in line with the CPI-M and LDF's decision to appoint the 92-year-old Left leader to a top government post, which was introduced on July 14.
Opposition members used the opportunity to attack LDF and also Achuthanandan, saying the legislation was to quell the internal bickering in CPI-M and to 'silence' the leader by giving him a position.
Referring to Opposition criticism that the new post would result in additional burden on the state's 'Consolidated Fund,' Law Minister A K Balan said people, who had once indulged in spending government funds lavishly, were now expressing concern on additional expense over a new post.
A sum of Rs 450 crore was spent additionally for the 'Mass Contact programme' during the previous UDF rule, Balan said.
S Sharma (CPI-M) said the opposition, by insulting the veteran communist leader, has shown injustice to history.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, in their dissent note, said it was "misuse" of public funds to appoint a legislative member as the ARC Chairman with all facilities and privileges of a minister.
"This particular legislation is with a selfish motive," the note added.
Lambasting LDF for introducing the bill, Chennithala said it was only to silence the veteran. The legislation can be called 'Achuthanandan bill', he said, ridiculing the ruling front.
There is no situation existing in the state that warranted creation of such a new post, that too at a time when the state was facing a financial crisis, he said, asking Achuthanandan to decide whether to accept the post or not. The opposition members then staged a walkout.
