The party and the Government headed by it is on the mat over the appointment of former MP from Attingal, A. Sampath as the State Government’s Special Representative with Cabinet rank in the national capital.

The appointment, even as the State is passing through a severe financial crisis, has attracted all-round criticism. The Opposition parties, always on the lookout for a chance to grill the Government, has promptly pounced on the opportunity to the acute embarrassment of the latter.

What rankles the most is the fact that the decision has been taken without a discussion within the ruling Left Democratic Front. State president of the Janata Dal(S), C. K. Nanu, has admitted that the allies were in the dark about Sampath’s appointment.

The CPI(M) has however defended the decision. A special representative who is fully familiar with the Government’s thinking and policies was essential to get the maximum benefit from the Government at the Centre, contend the CPI(M) leaders.

The Opposition counters this argument. When there are 33 MPs from the State – both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha included – what was the need for a special representative at the national capital? What can Sampath do that these MPs cannot achieve? There is no convincing answer either from the government or the Chief Minister, who was reported to be keen on Sampath’s appointment.

Such wasteful expenditure using the tax payers’ money is a luxury the cash-strapped State Government can ill afford, especially at a time when the government is struggling to find funds for the rehabilitation of the victims of the unprecedented floods that devastated the state last hear.

It may be mentioned that the LDF Government is already under fire over the appointment of VS Achuthanandan as the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission and KC(B) leader R. Balakrishnan Pillai as the Forward Classes Commission chief. This was not expected from a Government which had promised a transparent and clean administration.

The least the Government can do to undo the damage is to cancel the appointment. Otherwise, it would be guilty of the same crimes which it had accused the previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) of committing with scant regard for the fiscal fitness of the state. (IPA Service)