THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition leader harshly criticized the Lokayukta ordinance. The anti-corruption system in Kerala has been destroyed with the governor signing the ordinance. The chief minister has nothing to worry as he has assured that Lokayukta will only bark and not bite, criticized opposition leader V D Satheeshan.

‘The chief minister need not worry anymore; a compromise has been made. The governor and the chief minister have insulted the legislative assembly. The tussle between the governor and the chief minister was settled through intermediaries. From now onwards, the chief minister will be known in history as ‘the chief minister who nourished corruption’. It was already known that a compromise would be reached between the governor and the government. Everything the governor said against the university is gone now. I saw the news reports stating that a file containing the recommendation for the appointment of a BJP leader in the state, to the personal staff of the governor, was found on the chief minister’s desk. If that is true, then what happened now needs to be suspected as a give and take’, said the opposition leader.

The Lokayukta ordinance was signed by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday morning, amid much controversy. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had visited the governor at the Raj Bhavan on Sunday, following which hints were in the air suggesting the end of governor-government clash that ranged from the university re-appointment controversy to the Lokayukta ordinance. The meeting took place amidst the uncertainty over the governor’s decision on the ordinance. After the meeting that went on for one and half hours, the government was hopeful of a favorable decision from the governor.

Through the inspections carried out in the last few days, the governor was convinced of the fact that Kerala has provisions in the Lokayukta act, which were not found in any other state. Governor’s meeting with the chief minister had fully resolved the conflict. As the governor has signed the ordinance, the cabinet meeting on Wednesday will decide the schedule for the assembly session.