UDF Convener Adoor Prakash Says Kept In Dark On Cabinet Decisions

Adoor Prakash said in Thiruvananthapuram that he had learnt of key decisions of Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s government “through the media,” bringing internal strains in the Congress-led United Democratic Front into the open on Thursday (October 1, 2026).

The UDF convener expressed strong displeasure at a press conference and said he was being “kept in the dark about important government decisions.”

His criticism was directed at Mr. Satheesan both as Chief Minister and as UDF chairman, with Mr. Prakash indicating that the Chief Minister had not taken the initiative to convene a UDF meeting.

Cabinet-rank appointments trigger criticism

Mr. Prakash said he was not informed about Wednesday’s Cabinet decision to appoint IUML leader M.K. Muneer as chairman of the State Administrative Reforms Commission and Forward Bloc leader G. Devarajan as the State government’s representative in New Delhi.

Both positions carry Cabinet rank, according to the source account of the Cabinet decision.

Mr. Prakash said the issue was not the eligibility of Mr. Muneer or Mr. Devarajan, but the absence of any discussion and the fact that he was not informed about the Cabinet decision.

“Anyhow, I was not aware of these decisions as the UDF convener. They were taken without my knowledge,” he said.

“I’m saying this as the UDF should have known about it,” he said.

Pointing out that his own appointment as UDF convener was made by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mr. Prakash said he would convey his dissatisfaction over the developments to the Congress leadership.

He also said his remarks should not be misunderstood as an attempt to blame the Chief Minister, but should be seen in the “light of his experience”.

‘Unfortunate’ to hear decisions through media

Mr. Prakash said he did not expect the Chief Minister, who works within a busy schedule, to inform him about each and every decision.

Even so, he said it was “unfortunate” if the UDF convener had to learn about decisions through the media.

He said there was “no point in hiding these things” and added that people should also be aware of the situation.

“It is unfortunate that I cannot give adequate replies to questions on the developments in the UDF when I’m asked about them. There is no point in hiding these things. The people should also be aware of it,” he said.

His remarks placed the focus on the functioning of the UDF’s internal coordination mechanism at a time when decisions are pending on several matters.

The UDF coordination committee last met on July 30, and important decisions, including appointments to top posts in corporations and boards under government departments, are pending.

Mr. Prakash observed that many of those posts are still held by individuals appointed by the previous CPI(M)-led LDF government.

UDF meeting yet to be convened

Mr. Prakash said the UDF had not been able to convene a meeting, and that the Chief Minister, as UDF chairman, had to take the initiative.

“The UDF has not been able to convene a meeting. As UDF chairman, the Chief Minister has to take the initiative. But as chairman, he has not said anything, and so the UDF has not met,” he said.

“Decisions are pending on many matters,” he said.

The convener’s comments suggested that the absence of a UDF meeting had become central to his concerns about how government and front-level decisions were being handled.

He linked his inability to respond to questions on developments in the UDF to the lack of information reaching him in his role as convener.

Bypoll setback and coordination concerns

Mr. Prakash’s outburst came after a setback for the UDF in the bypolls held to 38 local body wards.

He pointed to a lack of coordination on the UDF’s side.

He also said the power crisis had caused dissatisfaction among the people.

His comments therefore extended beyond the Cabinet-rank appointments and touched on the UDF’s wider political and organisational functioning.

On the recent “sponsorship” controversy regarding Mr. Satheesan’s chartered flight to disaster-hit Nilambur, Mr. Prakash said the Chief Minister should “explain such matters in a way that convinces the people.”

When asked whether he had expressed his concerns to Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph, Mr. Prakash said the opportunity had not come.

On the appointment of a full-time KPCC president, he said a decision had to come quickly to ensure strong leadership for the party’s State unit.

The developments were published at 04:06 pm IST on October 01, 2026.

Source: The Hindu