Everything crashing down like a pack of cards, as noose tightens for Sivasankar, Kerala is going to witness the fall of which leader?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pinarayi Vijayan government has faced many obstacles after it came to power in 2016. But the government faced most of them, including natural disasters with great determination and courage. It even gave an impression among the people that LDF might get another second term consecutively. But certain events which happened on July 30 has completely destroyed the government’s image. Kerala was stunned to hear the news of gold smuggling worth Rs 15 crore through the diplomatic cargo baggage of UAE consulate and more information such as a secretariat official is behind this made Keralites to raise their eyebrows in ‘awe.’ Investigation on Swapna Suresh further led the probe to chief minister’s principal secretary M Sivasankar IAS which put the government and LDF in a precarious position.

Sivasankar was known as the right-hand man of the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. The concise-keeper of the most stern and inflexible chief minister of Kerala. The ties between the duo date back during the term of E K Nayanar. During Nayanar government’s period, Pinarayi was the power minister and Sivasankar was his most trusted department secretary. The chief minister’s office which was regulated by M V Jayarajan and Nalini Netto slowly steered towards the interests of Sivasankar. The protective shield of Pinarayi Vijayan who was highly influential in the party machinery saved Sivasankar from the claws of the party leadership.

It was at that time, Swapna and gold smuggling fell upon Sivasankar like the ‘sword of Damocles.’ Even before that Sprinkler controversy has shaken the government but due to Sivasankar’s intervention in media, the mist created by the row somehow has subsided. Sivasankar was widely criticized at that time for signing the contract on a personal basis without following the due protocols. But the same level of confidence has not protected Sivasankar from the accusations of gold smuggling. The findings of the customs that gold was smuggled through diplomatic cargo baggage, under the address of UAE consulate has created impacts even in national politics. Swapna Suresh a high ranking official in government’s cyber park was arrested as chief accused and probe even went to Sivasankar’s office as he was her protector, which in turn put chief minister’s office under the shade of suspicion.

At last, the chief minister realised that if he doesn’t abandon Sivasankar, severe consequences had to be faced. Thus he was compelled to take action against him. He was removed from the position of principal secretary and IT department secretary. Thus Sivasankar, the officer who once acted as the key decision-maker in Kerala’s administration became a daily visitor of all probe agencies in the state. Hours-long grilling continued for many days. With this time, information on all illegal transactions that Sivasankar made with Swapna has been revealed and when it was realised that he would get arrested, Sivasankar, under the garb of severe back pain got admitted in a private hospital.

Today the court has cancelled Sivasankar’s plea for anticipatory bail and within minutes ED took him under custody from a private treatment centre. Now only the usual procedure of recording arrest remains and after that, the basic nature of the investigation will change. Sivasankar won’t be able to stand more. Therefore Kerala is anxiously watching who is going to fall next.