Kerala PSC appointments under LDF must be reviewed, says BJP's Muraleedharan
Synopsis
With 180 complaints logged, two PSC members questioned by a SIT, and the outgoing Governor writing to the President, Kerala's public service recruitment scandal is escalating fast. BJP's Muraleedharan is now demanding a full review of every LDF-era PSC appointment — and pointedly asking why both the ruling UDF and opposition LDF are standing together against the Governor's intervention.
Key Takeaways
Muraleedharan demanded a review of all Kerala PSC appointments made during the LDF government on 26 October 2026 .
Two PSC members appeared before the SIT for questioning; PSC Chairman Dr M.R.
Baiju has been served a notice to appear on Wednesday .
Outgoing Governor Rajendra V.
Arlekar wrote to the President of India seeking action against the PSC board, following a notice to the PSC secretary on 21 August .
Satheesan told the Assembly that the state police chief received 180 complaints related to PSC irregularities.
Both ruling UDF and opposition CPI(M) have called the Governor's action unconstitutional; Muraleedharan challenged them to explain the legal basis.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan on Monday, 26 October demanded a comprehensive investigation into all appointments made through the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, and called for a full review of those appointments. His statement came on the same day two PSC members appeared before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for questioning over alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.
SIT Questioning and Governor's Notice
The two PSC members who appeared before the SIT are part of a widening probe into alleged appointment irregularities. PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju has also been served a notice to appear before the SIT on Wednesday. The investigation has gained additional momentum following reports that outgoing Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar wrote to the President of India seeking action against the PSC board — a step that itself followed a notice the Governor had served to the PSC secretary on 21 August based on complaints received.
Scale of Complaints and Government Response
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan informed the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Monday that the state police chief had received 180 complaints related to PSC irregularities. He also noted that three complaints received through the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms had been forwarded to the Home Department for a Crime Branch investigation. With the volume of complaints now public, Muraleedharan argued the government had no basis to delay action against those responsible.
BJP's Charge Against the Ruling Alliance
Muraleedharan accused the Satheesan government of shielding those responsible for the alleged irregularities rather than prosecuting them. He questioned why both the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the opposition CPI(M)-led LDF had condemned the Governor's intervention as unconstitutional, calling on them to explain the legal basis for that position. Notably, the BJP leader invoked a recent court observation that reportedly criticised both ruling and opposition parties for allegedly protecting each other instead of pursuing accountability.
Political Crossfire Over Governor's Move
The Governor's letter to the President has triggered a rare alignment between the ruling UDF and the opposition LDF, with both blocs calling the move constitutionally improper. Muraleedharan, however, argued that the CPI(M)'s resistance was understandable given its tenure oversaw the alleged irregularities, but questioned why Congress and the UDF had adopted the same stance. Critics argue the convergence of ruling and opposition parties against the Governor's action points to a broader reluctance to pursue the PSC controversy to its logical end.
What Muraleedharan Demanded
The BJP leader laid out three specific demands: a review of all PSC appointments made during the LDF's tenure, the questioning of the main accused in the irregularities, and firm action against those found responsible. He said these steps were essential to restore public confidence in the PSC as an institution. The BJP's call comes against the backdrop of mounting judicial, executive, and political pressure on an agency whose credibility has come under sustained scrutiny in recent weeks.
Point of View
Even as 180 complaints pile up, lends credibility to the court's reported concern about mutual protection. Muraleedharan's demands are politically motivated, but the institutional question he raises — whether every LDF-era appointment deserves scrutiny — is legitimate and distinct from partisan noise. The SIT's progress, and whether the Crime Branch investigation runs independently of political pressures, will determine if this remains a headline scandal or becomes a structural reckoning for the PSC.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Kerala PSC irregularities that triggered the SIT probe?
The Kerala Public Service Commission is facing allegations of irregularities in appointments made during the previous LDF government's tenure. A Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe these allegations, and the state police chief has so far received 180 complaints related to the matter.
Why did the Governor write to the President about the PSC?
Outgoing Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar wrote to the President of India seeking action against the PSC board after first serving a notice to the PSC secretary on 21 August based on complaints received about the alleged irregularities. The Governor's move was condemned as unconstitutional by both the ruling UDF and the opposition LDF.
What has BJP's Muraleedharan specifically demanded?
V. Muraleedharan has demanded a comprehensive review of all PSC appointments made during the LDF government's tenure, questioning of the main accused, and firm action against those found responsible. He says these steps are necessary to restore public confidence in the PSC.
Who has been summoned by the SIT in the PSC case?
Two PSC members appeared before the SIT for questioning on Monday, 26 October. PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju has been served a notice to appear before the SIT on Wednesday.
Why is the BJP questioning the Congress-led UDF government's stance?
Muraleedharan questioned why the ruling UDF — which is not the LDF accused of the irregularities — has aligned with the opposition CPI(M) in opposing the Governor's intervention. He argued that both parties should instead be demanding accountability, citing recent court observations that reportedly criticised both sides for protecting each other.
