Keralam CM Satheesan says he stands by his claim on number of personal staff during previous LDF government
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan are engaged in a public dispute over the number of personal staff members appointed during their respective administrations. Satheesan claims the previous government had significantly higher staffing levels and social media spending.
Why it matters
Illustrates the political friction and transparency debates regarding government spending and administrative appointments in Indian state politics.
The war of words between Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan over the appointment of personal staff escalated on Friday, with Mr. Satheesan posting on Facebook that he stood by his claim that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had appointed 787 people to the personal staff of the Chief Minister and Ministers.
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Satheesan had claimed that the present United Democratic Front (UDF) government has kept a tight lid on appointments, hiring only 476 personal staff members. He had pointed out that, by contrast, the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government had appointed 787 personal staff members. He also said that his Ministers have been restricted to a maximum of 25 staff members each, whereas some Ministers in the previous LDF Cabinet had maintained 27 to 29 members.
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