PATHANAMTHITTA: A dispute has broken out between the CPI and the CPM over the incident in which the employees of the Konni Taluk office went for a picnic after taking mass leave. After CPI district assistant secretary PR Gopinath alleged that KU Jenish Kumar MLA intervened in the matter in an immature way, CPM district secretary KP Udayabhanu defended the MLA's action He said that the action of the employees who took mass leave from the office was in no way justifiable and it was not a matter to be politicized.

The CPI contends that it was illegal for the MLA to sit on the tehsildar's chair upon reaching the taluk office and check the employees' attendance. It was wrong for the employees to go on a group excursion. The MLA could have brought the matter to the attention of the District Collector or the Revenue Minister. According to the CPI, the MLA brought shame to the government by bringing the issue before the public through the media. Only 21 out of the total 61 employees came to work on Friday. 19 people had applied for leave. 21 people did not give leave applications. Most of the employees who took leave are members of the Joint Council, an organization of the CPI. Members of CPM's NGO Union, Congress's NGO Association and BMS's NGO Sangh were also in the group that went to the picnic.

Will seek explanation
Meanwhile, the ADM submitted a report to the District Collector stating that an explanation will be sought from those who did not apply for leave. The report also stated that those who applied for leave in advance cannot be asked for an explanation as per the Kerala Service Rules.