Under-pressure LDF govt to introduce laws to curb nepotism in PSU appointments

Coming under pressure from the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on alleged nepotism in appointments to high ranking posts, the Left Democratic Front (LDF)-led government on Thursday decided to initiate a legislation for regulating nepotism in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

The decision was by taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

An expert committee would be formed to oversee the appointments to the PSUs and a Vigilance clearance, hereafter, would be made mandatory for appointments to Managing Director and General Manager posts.

The decision to formulate the legislation comes in the backdrop of Industries Minister E. P. Jayarajan appointing some of his close relatives in key posts in some state PSUs.

Jayarajan had appointed P K Sudheer, his nephew and son of CPI(M)Kannur MP P K Sreemathi, as Managing Director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises Ltd.

The minister had also appointed his brother's daughter-in-law Dipthi Nishad as General Manager of Kerala Clay and Ceramics Products Ltd at Kannur.

Meanwhile, the nepotism row has reporterdely not gone down well with its ally the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The CPI (M), the second largest party in the LDF, had strongly criticised favouritism by ministers and leaders.

BJP and UDF have been demanding the resignation of Jayarajan.