The Communist-ruled southern state of Kerala has at last accorded a “cabinet rank” to former chief minister V S Achuthanandan who led them to power in the general elections two months back.
The 92-year-old will head the Administrative Reforms Commission (ADC) which has two former bureaucrats as members.
He can enjoy all the facilities of a minister except power or a role in the decision-making process of the government.
“The commission chair will have the cabinet rank and other services like the personal staff,” a WhatsApp message from the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, among other decisions of his cabinet meeting yesterday.
The Opposition had objected to his appointment saying it would make the exchequer poorer by Rs2bn.
He will get a government bungalow and can appoint two dozen personal staff who will enjoy lifelong pension after his term.
The newly set-up Commission is for advising the government on improving administrative efficiency.
Other members, CP Nair and Neela Gangadharan, would enjoy the rank of chief secretary which they held last.
The government had introduced the Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualifications) Amendment Bill in the House last month to ensure that an elected legislator does not attract any disqualification even if he holds such a post.
Achuthanandan was elected to the Assembly from Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district for the fourth straight time even while vigorously campaigning for the Left candidates across the state, including in Vijayan’s Dharmadam constituency.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), which ousted him from its highest decision-making body politburo during the height of his bitter fight with Vijayan a few years back, decided to deny him the top post after elections saying he was too old to head the government.
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury also said he would play the role of Cuba’s Fidel Castro, and he was expecting to be made the government’s advisor with a cabinet rank and a responsible position in the party.
But the decision delayed keeping everyone guessing and one of the senior minister even went on record saying anyone can head the ADC, and no decision was taken on the veteran who was the chief minister during 2006-2011.
Achuthanandan was also upset at the silence of CPI-M legislators when the opposition members attacked him over his longing for the post.
Vijayan had recently taken over as chairman of the LDF, which also left him sulking.
The late chief ministers EMS Namboodiripad and EK Nayanar had held the post earlier during the Left rule but without the cabinet rank.
A public interest litigation is pending in the Kerala High Court questioning Achuthanandan’s appointment on the counts of the burden on the exchequer and his low education level (he was a school dropout).
The litigant argues that by appointing a person who has only studied till Class VII, the state government is following the spoils system for adequately compensating him for leading the campaign during the last elections on behalf of the ruling Left Democratic Front.