THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a dramatic political and social turn of events, L.H. Yadu, the former KSRTC temporary driver who lost his livelihood following a high-profile showdown with former Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran and her husband Sachin Dev, has secured a new job. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has officially appointed Yadu as a temporary driver for the Kerala Legislative Assembly on a daily-wage basis.
The move is being widely hailed across social media platforms as “poetic justice,” where a common man, allegedly sidelined by political high-handedness, has bounced back directly into the state’s powerhouse.
Chandy Oommen’s Intervention & Speaker’s Masterstroke
Following his termination from KSRTC, Yadu had aligned with the Congress-backed INTUC union and fought a long administrative battle to regain employment. Recognizing the injustice, Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen formally wrote a recommendation letter to Assembly Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan requesting a placement for Yadu. Taking prompt action, the Speaker cleared the temporary appointment, giving Yadu the responsibility of driving official assembly vehicles.
The Backdrop of the Controversy
The saga began at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, when the then-Mayor Arya Rajendran and her husband intercepted a running KSRTC bus, alleging that Yadu drove recklessly, refused to give physical clearance to their private car, and made inappropriate gestures. Amidst heavy political pressure, KSRTC immediately pulled Yadu off duty, leaving him unemployed.
Though local police initially delayed registering Yadu’s counter-complaint, a local court order eventually forced them to register a case against the Mayor and her husband. In a severe political twist during the subsequent Assembly elections, both Arya Rajendran and Sachin Dev faced defeats, losing their political offices. Today’s appointment marks a full-circle moment, where Yadu returns to work right under the roof where state policies are framed.
