Keralam govt faces unity test as UDF convener Adoor Prakash reiterates ‘lack of alliance consultations’ on key postings

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UDF convener Adoor Prakash | Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Keralam appears to face a public test of unity after UDF convener Adoor Prakash on Friday (October 2, 2026) reiterated his grievance over a purported lack of consensus in the ruling coalition on key political appointments. 

Mr Prakash followed up on his barely veiled criticism of the government allegedly keeping the UDF in the dark about critical decisions on Thursday, including the appointment of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader M.K. Muneer as the Administrative Reforms Commission chairperson, a Cabinet-rank post, and G. Devarajan, national general secretary of the Forward Bloc, as Keralam’s special representative in New Delhi, by telling reporters in Pathanamthitta that he would report his “concerns” to the All India Congress Committee (AICC). 

Mr Prakash underscored that he was not questioning the merit of the appointees but rather highlighting the critical lack of due consultation within the UDF on decisions with potential political ramifications for the government. 

Mr Prakash dismissed statements by Congress Cabinet Ministers that the government had kept the UDF in the loop regarding key decisions. “For some unknown reason, the UDF has met only once (July 31) after the government assumed office. The Chief Minister’s busy schedule and floods and landslips could be the reasons”, he said.

Notably, Mr Prakash refused to elaborate when asked whether Kerala Congress chairperson P.J. Joseph had complained that he had been passed over for the Administrative Reforms Commission post. Mr Prakash was not available for further comment. 

Meanwhile, Mr Muneer told reporters in Kozhikode that he felt “pained” that some quarters had portrayed his appointment as a “capitulation” to the IUML.

“I had staked no claim to the post. The Chief Minister communicated the decision after the Cabinet meeting”, he said. 

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought to wade into the controversy, saying the government’s overtures to the IUML would not augur well for Keralam’s “social balance”. 

Senior BJP leader V. Muraleedharan told The Hindu that Mr Satheesan had “backhandedly acquiesced” to the IUML’s persistent demand for a sixth Cabinet post by appointing Mr Muneer. Mr Muraleedharan alleged that Mr Satheesan had “reciprocated” the IUML’s successful bid to prop him up as UDF’s Chief Minister, undercutting other aspirants. 

“The IUML is punching above its weight. It arm-twisted the (former) Oommen Chandy government into gifting the party a fifth Cabinet post. Moreover, the Administrative Reforms Commission post is merely ornamental and an avoidable burden on the public exchequer”, he said. 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders were not immediately available for comment on the issue, which has the potential to roil intra-UDF and Congress politics in Keralam.

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