Kerala's LDF government doesn't pass muster: Congress

The LDF government in Kerala does not pass muster in the first 100 days of its office even with "grace marks," said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala here on Thursday.

He said on the 100th day -- Thursday -- of the government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, even the the Left Demoratic Front's (LDF) own leaders are keeping mum.

"Even (veteran CPI-M leader) Achuthanandan has got nothing to say about the government. No one heard any comments from the CPI, the second biggest party in the ruling LDF, and the LDF Convenor (Vaikom Viswan) is also silent," said Chennithala.

Asked on Thursday by reporters what he thought about 100 days of the Vijayan government, former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said, "The time hasn't yet come to make an assessment."

Following the assembly elections earlier this year, Vijayan pipped Achuthanandan, 92, to the chief minister's chair.

The veteran Marxist leader was appointed on August 3, 2016, the Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, a position that comes with cabinet minister's status, but has not yet taken office.

"Can someone tell why is Achuthanandan not taking up the post," asked Chennithala, who is Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly.

While the whole world is moving towards decentralisation, Vijayan is staying put for "some strange reason", Chennithala said.

"His style of functioning is like dictatorship and he is the master of all and unwilling to delegate," he said.

Meanwhile, Vijayan did a Narendra Modi on Thursday, going live on the All India Radio and FM radio channels. In his address to the people of Kerala, he thanked them for "fully supporting" him.

"Sustainable development on all fronts is the agenda of my government and another key area is to tackle the menace of substance abuse, especially among the youth. Organic farming is also a top priority on our agenda," said Vijayan in his radio address.

Vijayan was sworn-in as the Chief Minister on May 25, completing 100 days in office on Thursday.

--IANS

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