Appointment row: Govt views it seriously: Ker CM

With opposition continuing to slam the LDF government over the appointment of ministerial relatives to plum posts in PSUs, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today admitted it was a 'serious' issue and said an appropriate decision would be taken soon.
To add to the government's woes, senior CPI-M leader, V S Achuthanandan also hit out, saying exemplary action should be taken against the wrongdoer.
When asked about the ongoing row over the appointments, Vijayan told reporters in Kozhikode: "The issues which have cropped up now, the government viewed them seriously. We will decide together and take an appropriate decision."
"LDF is not UDF, CPI(M) is not Congress," he added.

Congress-led UDF and BJP have been demanding resignation of Industries Minister E P Jayarajan after his relative P K Sudheer Nambiar, son of senior CPI(M) leader and Kannur MP, P K Sreemathi, was appointed Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd (KSIE). The government later quashed it.
Asked whether the present controversy had tarnished the image of the LDF government, Achuthanandan said: "There is no doubt (about it)."

"I think the government will conduct a serious inquiry into the issue and take exemplary action against the wrongdoer," he told reporters in Thiruvanathapuram.
When asked about the statement of Achuthanandan, who is also Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission, Vijayan did not react.

The chief minister also took time to explain that the appointment of Sreemathi's daughter-in-law as a member of her personal staff during her tenure as health minister in the Achuthanandan government 10 years ago, was not with the knowledge of the party.
Vijayan, who was party secretary then, said ministers can appoint three persons in their personal staff-- a cook, driver and a person to answer the telephone.
The party was not aware of the appointment of Sreemathi's daughter-in-law and no prior permission need be taken from the party for it as the minister concerned can decide, he said.
However, when she was promoted, it came to the party's notice and it was felt that was not appropriate and the appointment was struck down, he said.

Sreemathi had stated in the post that her
daughter-in-law's appointment was "with the party's knowledge."
When the controversy broke out, she resigned as per the party's directive. "But, she is not receiving any (government) pension as alleged by Congress and BJP leaders. She has not even applied for it," the former minister clarified.
However, she later withdrew the post following criticism from various quarters.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala today dragged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan into the row and said Vijayan's stand he was "unaware" about the controversial appointments was "not correct."
He also wanted the government to quash appointments of leaders' relatives in PSUs.

"Chief Minister is well aware about the appointments. But he is now trying to be saint. His claim of being unaware about it is only to hoodwink," Chennithala said in Wayanad.
"Accused should be punished under anti-corruption law. Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau should take action in this," he said adding that Jayarajan had no moral right to continue in the position.
BJP state secretary M T Ramesh also demanded Jayarajan's resignation.
The minister should be expelled from the government if he was not ready to go out himself, Ramesh told a press meet in Thiruvanathapuram.
He also said the party would approach court, soon after the pooja holidays, seeking action against Jayarajan.