The opposition LDF walks out of the assembly, saying the government has failed to control the spread of the disease

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan blamed the Health Minister for his absence in Kozhikode, immediately after the Nipah case was reported, a practice during the tenure of the LDF government, during the session of the 16th Kerala Legislative Assembly, in Thiruvananthapuram on June 22, 2026. File photo: X/@pinarayANI

The opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings of the Kerala Legislative Assembly after Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan rejected its announcement of an adjournment motion over the alleged failure of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government to prevent the spread of diseases on Monday (22Jun22).

The Speaker refused to allow an adjournment motion based on Health Minister K. Muraleedharan’s explanation of steps taken by the government to combat Nipah, Shigella and viral infections.

Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that there was a delay by the government in taking preventive measures after one person was diagnosed with Nipah in Kozhikode. He accused the health minister of being absent from Kozhikode, immediately after the Nipah case was reported, as was the case during the tenure of the LDF government.

“According to the Minister of Health’s own words, there was a lack of coordination between the health departments and local governments. The Minister and the officials repeatedly spoke out against each other. In such a time of crisis, the government should be able to take everyone with it on effective preventive measures,” he said.

Mr. Vijayan said the government should take immediate steps to ensure the appointment of District Medical Officers (DMOs) in five districts, including four districts in the Malabar region, where the posts are vacant. Also worrying is the government’s delay in appointing 390 doctors who received referrals after being included in the PSC rank lists. Transfers of officials, including the Director of Health Services (DHS), should be avoided at such times, he said.

CPI(M) MLA PA Mohamed Riyas, who moved the adjournment motion along with CPI MLA GR Anil, said initial indications of the UDF government’s handling of the health crisis were not encouraging. He said that since June 1, Kerala has witnessed 87 deaths due to various viral infections.

“The previous LDF government spent its first month fighting to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the current UDF government was embroiled in a power struggle in its first month. We do not intend to personally attack the health minister or the chief minister over this, as the UDF has done in the past, because that is not the right political culture that should exist between the left and the official prevention. The pre-monsoon cleanup also led to this situation,” he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan said the government is trying to fix the health system, which is in shambles. He accused the previous LDF government of not taking sufficient steps to prevent the disease, including cleaning activities, during the early part of the year it was in power.

“At present, only one case of Nipah has been reported. Due to effective surveillance, we have been successful in preventing the spread. How many deaths due to Nipah happened under the previous government? Our government’s approach is not to hide disease outbreaks and say everything is fine, but to scientifically control its spread by including people in the process,” he said.

The minister explained the steps taken by the government so far. To control dengue, the government has taken steps to destroy the sources of mosquitoes. Dry day campaigns have started across the state in government institutions, schools and households. The Food Safety Department has stepped up inspections at restaurants, roadside eateries and drinking water bottling plants.

A high-powered committee of experts has been created to investigate the causes of the spread of the disease and prepare an epidemic calendar. Outbreak monitoring units and action committees have been formed at the state and district levels. The minister said no cases of Ebola have been reported in the state. One suspected case tested negative.

On the transfer of DHS, the minister said that some officials who were unaware of the change of government and continued to prove their loyalty to the previous government had to be transferred.

Published – 22 Jun 2026 13:59 IST