Health Minister Blames Officials Over BJP Leader's Appointment at Konni Nursing College

Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K Muraleedharan is attempting to shift the responsibility to officials over the appointment made at Konni Nursing College as part of an alleged Congress-BJP nexus. The controversy concerns the appointment of Ratheesh R Nair, BJP Thiruvananthapuram district Pensioners Cell convenor, as Senior Superintendent.

The minister has claimed that neither he nor his office was aware of the appointment and that the officials made the appointment. This comes amid allegations that the minister's office directly intervened to appoint the BJP leader, bypassing several eligible candidates.

The minister has cited arguments including that the salary is only Rs 32,000, that no one would be willing to take up an appointment in Konni and that removing Ratheesh now could prompt him to approach the court. The minister has also claimed that the legal aspects of the issue are being examined and that further action will be taken legally.

The allegations that an RSS leader was given preference in the appointment have raised questions over the minister's role, with critics accusing him of making officials scapegoats to cover up the lapse.

Ratheesh, who was earlier a state committee member of the NGO Sangh, was appointed Senior Superintendent at the Konni Nursing College under the Health Department.