Removal of ADGP Ajith Kumar from law and order duties; move to counter opposition and resolve discontent in Left front

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government's move to remove ADGP Ajith Kumar from law and order duties was to counter the opposition that was moving to attack the government in the assembly session yesterday and to resolve the discontent in the front. The action was reduced to removal from Law and Order duty by rejecting the serious allegations in the DGP's report against Ajith Kumar.

At the LDF meeting, the chief minister had said that action would be taken after examining the investigation report against Ajith Kumar. This was repeated later in meetings with the CPI leadership. It was assessed that the political and administrative crisis that would be created by going back on this would bring disrepute to the government and the party and there could be a setback in the upcoming by-elections. By removing Ajith from the Law and Order duty, CPM will be able to counter the allegation of RSS-CPM nexus raised by the opposition as well.

The CPM state committee meeting held the other day also opined that there would be a political backlash if the ADGP, who is facing multiple investigations on various issues, is allowed to continue in his current post.
VS Sunil Kumar, who was the LDF candidate in Thrissur, criticizing the ADGP in connection with the Pooram disruption and the CPI publicly demanding the same more than once, had created pressure on the government and the chief minister. Binoy Viswam later raised the issue again in a meeting with the Chief Minister and the CPM state secretary and handed over the letter from CPI the day before the assembly was to meet. He shared with the chief minister the concern raised by the letter received by the CPM state secretary stating that CPI would take an independent stand without supporting the chief minister if the opposition raised the issue related to the home department. The CPI is also happy that their pressure paid off. With the revelation of ADGP's role in the Pooram disruption, there was a possibility of an explosion in the CPI if the change of ADGP was not possible.