KOCHI: Underscoring the importance of good governance and transparency in democracy, KPCC president V M Sudheeran said if professionalism and transparency were ensured many controversies could have been avoided.
Inaugurating the state conference of the Indian Professionals’ Congress (IPCon), a sister organisation of the Kerala Pradesh Congress, here on Sunday, Sudheeran said that in a democracy, citizens were the ultimate judges.“Even if you entrust the best public relations firm or try professional publicity tools, the attempts would fall flat if the people’s concerns are not addressed. Governance with people at the centre is the key to democratic advancement,” he pointed out.“Many of the unnecessary controversies could have been avoided if transparency and professional consultation were ensured in appointments to the key posts,” said Sudheeran, referring to the controversies related to the appointment of Vice-chancellors.Taking a dig at administrators and heads of government institutions who ‘manage’ to retain their positions even when governments change, Sudheeran said, “such ‘management experts’ do not have any politics, and their only policy is to protect their vested interests by using their clout in the respective governments.The KPCC president hailed the mass contact programme of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as one of the best means to reach out to the people and to ensure transparency. “The overall impact of the mass contact programme was huge. The programme, which was well managed, attracted international attention,” he added.
IPCon president Rajan George, who presided over the conference, urged the KPCC president to bring in professionalism in the party and to reign in leaders who wash dirty linen in public, bringing shame on the party. K V Thomas MP; MLAs Dominic Presentation and Benny Behanan, among others, spoke.