The dispute between Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan over the size of personal staff teams has intensified after Satheesan posted a statement on Facebook on Friday, asserting that the former Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had appointed 787 staff members for the Chief Minister and ministers.
In a press conference following the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Satheesan said the current United Democratic Front (UDF) administration had kept appointments tight, hiring only 476 personal staff members, compared with 787 under the previous LDF. He added that ministers in the UDF were limited to a maximum of 25 staff, whereas ministers in the LDF had 27 to 29 members.
Vijayan immediately rejected the figure, stating that the personal staff count during his tenure had been less than 500 and challenged Satheesan to publish the list. Satheesan responded that he was willing to release the full list of personal staff for the 2021‑2026 period, including addresses and other details.
Satheesan also highlighted a 12‑member team created by the LDF to manage Vijayan’s website and social media, paid between ₹75,000 and ₹122,290, with a salary increase order issued in 2025. He said the LDF spent over ₹7 lakh a month and ₹84 lakh annually on social media management, while noting that the UDF has not exceeded the permitted limits for personal staff.
