Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan Slams UDF Govt Over Lack of Coordination in Tackling Disease Outbreaks

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan has launched a sharp attack on the UDF government, alleging a total absence of coordination between the Health Minister and the district administration at a time when the state demands a united front against multiple disease outbreaks.

Drawing a contrast with the LDF government's response during previous Nipah outbreaks, Pinarayi noted that the then Health Minister had camped on the ground to personally coordinate all containment activities. No such vigilance or seriousness is visible now, he said, adding that the current government appears to treat the Nipah centre as a place to be avoided rather than a command post for crisis management.

The Opposition Leader also expressed serious concern over transfers being carried out within the Health Department at this critical juncture, singling out the transfer of the Director of Health Services (DHS) as a particularly ill-timed and wrong decision. Replacing the head of the department during such a decisive moment, he said, was wholly unjustifiable.

He further pointed out that beyond Nipah, several other dangerous diseases are spreading across the state simultaneously — including Shigella, malaria, and other infectious fevers. This, he said, was clear evidence that pre-monsoon sanitation drives had not been carried out effectively, with even routine waste removal in major urban centres reportedly falling short.

Taking a pointed jab at the Health Minister, Pinarayi recalled that the minister had been among those who had levelled sharp criticism at the LDF government during past outbreaks. He said he expected the minister now understands, from personal experience, that disease outbreaks are not determined by who is in power — while making clear that the LDF would not resort to similar political attacks at a time of public health crisis.