Controversy over distribution of welfare pensions in UDF committee office

Amid the controversy over the distribution of social security pensions to beneficiaries at the United Democratic Front (UDF) election committee office in Pulpatta panchayat of Malappuram district, Local Government Minister KM Shaji on Thursday told the assembly that the official responsible for the distribution has been removed.

Responding to a call by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), MLA K. Premkumara said it was an isolated incident and steps were being taken to ensure it did not happen again. “Since the official responsible for the door-to-door delivery of social pensions had a fever, he was unable to pay the pensions on time. Subsequently, at the request of the beneficiaries, it was decided to carry out the distribution outside the building that served as the office of the UDF election committee. However, due to bad weather, the distribution was later moved inside the room. The building was used only during one election commission distribution,” the minister said.

Recipients line up

A video showing pension distribution at a UDF committee office with a long line of beneficiaries queuing up to draw their pensions has gone viral. Officials of the Pulpatta Service Cooperative Bank, under the control of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), as well as the IUML panchayat president were also seen in the video.

Mr. Premkumar said that within days of the UDF coming to power, such cases of misuse of power were reported. The distribution of pensions at a political party office was in breach of a 2016 Finance Department regulation that imposed door-to-door delivery of welfare pensions. Until then, even old beneficiaries who had serious health problems had to stand in queues at the cash register for their pension.

“On June 2, senior citizens stood in a queue at the UDF election committee office in Pulpatta till 8.30 pm. This is a clear case of corruption and abuse of power. The panchayat authorities, controlled by the IUML Muslim League, were also present,” he said.

Spokesperson Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that allegations of corruption cannot be raised as part of a Calling Attention Motion and therefore cannot go on record. Although Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan objected to it, the Speaker maintained that such allegations could be made during the debate or through other means available in the assembly procedures.

Published – 04 Jun 2026 17:07 IST