Kochi: There seems to be no letup in the vindictiveness of the Left Democratic Front Government in Kerala against those who fall out with the Chief Minister, the latest being former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

He was humiliated by the government when it refused to reimburse travel allowance of his staff accompanying him by air. Achuthanandan, who is the chairman of the administrative reforms commission, got the travel bills of his staff cleared by the Finance Minister and financial secretary.

But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who took interest in cancelling the allowance saying there was no provision for allowance.

Achuthanandan holds a rank on par with a Cabinet one and is eligible to allowance similar to that of the CM or any minister.

Pinarayi had turned against Achuthanandan for granting sanction to prosecute him in the SNC Lavalin corruption case which is still before the Supreme Court.

Achuthanandan was offended as he thought Pinarayi Vijayan had plotted to deny him a ticket in the 2006 Assembly election and prevent him getting the Chief Minister’s post.

Suspended DGP Jacob Thomas is another victim of vindictiveness as he was silenced with suspension after he blasted the government in his speech and made anti-government references in a book penned by him.

He was suspended from late 2017 and since then has not served in office.

The government’s anger increased further when he praised the RSS and took part in a major RSS event the other day in Kochi.

Soon after this, he won the case in the central administrative tribunal against the government and got an order for reinstatement.

But the Government is likely to delay his reinstatement citing criminal and vigilance cases, departmental disciplinary action and owning of property in Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu. It may also appeal in the High Court against the CAT order against Jacob whose tenure ends next year May.

Another case of government’s target was former DGP TP Sen Kumar who was shunted out from DGP (law and order) to a lower post soon after LDF assumed power in 2016.

He challenged it and won the case in Supreme Court.

He also got a favourable order from the High Court in a case accusing him of taking leave by submitting false medical certificate.