The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition on Thursday sought the intervention of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan to thwart the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s “under-the-table” move to promulgate an Ordinance to “defang” the Kerala Lok Ayukta and relegate the Ombudsman to a “nominal advisory role” in critical public interest cases related to corruption, nepotism, maladministration and abuse of official power.
A UDF delegation led by Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan met Mr. Khan and entreated him to withhold gubernatorial assent to the proposed executive order.
Later talking to reporters outside Raj Bhavan, Mr. Satheesan said the CPI(M) had furtively pressed for an executive order in a Cabinet meeting last week to "dilute" Section 14 of the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999.
