THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pinarayi Vijayan was made 'former' Chief Minister in the order issued by the Public Administration Department, which is directly in charge of the Chief Minister. Pinarayi was made the 'former chief minister' in the summary at the beginning of the order granting pension and other benefits to Puthalath Dinesan. Puthalath Dinesan was the Chief Minister's political secretary during the first Pinarayi government and the first year of the second Pinarayi government. It is written as 'Chief Minister' in the later part of the order though.

Dinesan worked in the Chief Minister's office for 6 years from June 2016 to April 2022. He will receive 3.88 lakhs as gratuity for six years. 6.44 lakhs for pension commutation and Rs.12,090/- as monthly pension was also approved. His salary was Rs 1.30 lakh when he resigned as political secretary. Last April, Puthalath Dinesan was replaced by P Sasi as the political secretary. Dinesan, a member of the CPM state secretariat, was appointed as the editor-in-chief of the party mouthpiece later.

6 crores for the pension of personal staff

1800 personal staffs, including the ones of former chief ministers and ministers, are eligible for pension in the state. 6 crore rupees are allocated in the budget for pension in a year. Personal staff who complete two years of service will get pension for life. The Pay Commission had given a report to the government that only those with four years of service should be considered for pension. But the Chief Minister rejected that recommendation.