Published Oct 09, 2026 | 7:16 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 09, 2026 | 7:16 PM
Keralam CM VD Satheesan.
Synopsis: Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan has said policy decisions will be taken only after consultations with Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, after convener Adoor Prakash accused him of taking key decisions without consulting the Front leadership. Prakash said he was neither consulted nor informed about the decision to grant Cabinet rank to IUML leader MK Muneer and Janathipathya Kerala Congress leader G Devarajan.
Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Friday, 9 October, said policy decisions would be taken only after consultations with Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders, following UDF convener Adoor Prakash’s criticism that key decisions were being taken without consulting the Front leadership.
“I want to make it clear that I am following the party’s policy. I am not averse to criticism. Anyone can criticise me, whether they are senior or junior leaders. If someone points out that I have made a mistake, I am ready to correct it,” Satheesan said, while declining to respond directly to Prakash’s remarks.
Satheesan said decisions would not be taken unilaterally and would be made only after discussions with the party. He pointed out that the Cabinet represented different sections of the UDF and included several senior leaders. Policy decisions, he said, were introduced after a consensus was reached.
Prakash had earlier this month criticised Satheesan, who is also the UDF chairman, for taking key decisions without consulting the Front leadership.
He said UDF meetings had not been convened for some time and that matters requiring collective discussion were being decided without informing him.
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The immediate cause of the disagreement was the decision to grant Cabinet rank to Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M K Muneer and Janathipathya Kerala Congress leader G Devarajan.
Prakash said both leaders deserved the positions but maintained that he had neither been consulted nor informed that the appointments were under consideration.
“I was not consulted in my capacity as UDF convener, nor was I informed that such a decision was being contemplated. The UDF ought to be aware of such matters. Consultation was necessary,” Prakash said.
He said he did not intend to target the Chief Minister personally but would bring the issue to the notice of the Congress central leadership, which had entrusted him with the responsibility of UDF convener.
Prakash also criticised the lack of coordination during the recent local body by-elections. The UDF won 18 seats but failed to make expected gains in some areas, he said. He added that he had campaigned in several districts without receiving specific directions from the leadership.
“There is no point in whispering such matters into the Chief Minister’s ear. A solution has to be found as soon as possible,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
