Pinarayi government's 100 days: A recap

Hundred days have passed since the Left Democratic Front rode to power on a popular wave of expectations. The honeymoon is over and it is time for some serious fact-checking.

Pinarayi Vijayan proved to be a no-nonsense chief minister, though the unwavering stance put the government on a path of confrontation on several occasions.

The government focused on welfare measures even as it sent out a strong message that it stood for large-scale infrastructure projects. Government officials were taken to task and a stern warning was sent out against corruption.

Even LDF supporters were a bit taken aback when the chief minister said cabinet decisions could not be revealed as per the Right to Information Act.

Comments on Mullaperiyar and Athirappilly also drew flak. Appointments of controversial advisers raised hackles.

Deadlocked discussions with the self-financing medical colleges regarding the fees and the delay in the distribution of school textbooks have cast a shadow on the government’s record.

Also Read | Pinarayi's 100-day report card: did he meet people's expectations? On the bright side, the coalition is comparatively coherent. Communal forces are in no position to arm-twist the government. Vijayan’s image as a strong leader makes governance smoother.

The government intends to declare massive schemes on the lines of its election manifesto, including a housing project for the poor.

Can the LDF set everything right, as the poll-time catchphrase promised? We have to wait a little longer.

Also Read | This is what CM Pinarayi has to say about his 100 days in office

Timeline

May 25: Pinarayi Vijayan sworn in chief minister. The first cabinet decides to have a deeper look into the controversial announcements by the previous government.

Welfare pensions have been raised to Rs 1,000 and arrangements made to distribute the pension at pensioner’s doorsteps. All departments directed to report vacancies.

Ministers do away with extravagant receptions and the number of their personal staff limited to 25. A special investigation team is formed to investigate the Jisha murder case. Vijayan also does away with the press conference after weekly cabinet meetings.

May 29: The electricity minister kicks up a storm when he said the government intends to go ahead with a hydel power plant at Athirappilly. The chief minister endorses the announcement but coalition partner CPI raises stiff opposition.

June 1: A shakeup at the top rungs of the police force. Loknath Behera replaces T P Senkumar as the Director General of Police. Senkumar goes public with his peeve.

Jacob Thomas appointed the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. IAS top brass also subjected to a reassignment.

June 8: The government decides to take over the schools facing closure. The chief minister tells secretariat employees that each file they handle represents a life. Asks them to be in office during duty time.

Also Read | My encounter with the curse of God’s own country

Also Read | As Pinarayi govt completes 100 days, focus on public health, education: Thomas Isaac June 9: The Chief Minister seeks to allay fears about the safety of the old dam at Mullaperiyar. He says the issue has to be handled in accordance with new studies.

The issue cannot be seen as a bone of contention with Tamil Nadu. Kerala needs Tamil Nadu’s cooperation if it were to build a new dam at the site, he says. The opposition alleges that the stand is a volte-face.

Kerala Sports Council president Anju Bobby George complains to the chief minister that the sports minister was rude to her.

June 13: The government lets people to write title deeds for properties on their own.

June 16: The police arrest a laborer from Assam for the murder of Jisha.

July 4: The chief minister puts in place a code of conduct for government employees. The cabinet approves an amendment related to the Administrative Reforms Commission.

July 8: The government’s first budget

July 14: The government says cabinet decisions cannot be publicized under the Right to Information Act. Chief Information Commissioner Vinson M Paul insists on revealing the info to anyone who seeks it.

July 19: The government tells the court that senior lawyer M K Damodaran will not act as a special adviser to the chief minister. The government backtracked on its decision after Damodaran appeared before the court on behalf of controversial businessman Santiago Martin and quarry owners.

July 20: Advocates beat up reporters on the premises of the Kerala High Court.

July 21: The chief minister appoints Harward scholar Gita Gopinath as economic adviser, drawing a barrage of criticism over the choice of a neo-liberal economist.

August 3: An Administrative Reforms Commission is formed with former CM V.S. Achuthanandan as chairman.

August 18: The chief minister locks horns with Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan in a review meeting on the Sabarimala shrine.

The government climbs down from its position on a unified fee for self-financing colleges.

August 26: The Kerala High Court orders a conditional stay on the government orders taking over admissions into the the self-financing medical and dental colleges.

And the last diktat: The chief minister bars government employees from celebrating Onam during office hours.