The Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association (KSRTEA), affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), demanded the Transport department end the politically motivated transfers in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

Addressing a press meet here on Thursday (July 23, 2026), Honey Balachandran, general secretary of KSRTEA, said that as many as 21 employees, including four superintendents and 17 assistants in the KSRTC chief office, were transferred on political grounds soon after the new government took charge.

Mr. Balachandran said the association had brought the issue to the attention of the Transport Minister at a couple of meetings, as the transferred employees mainly belong to the association, and he initially agreed to resolve it. However, he later backed away from his promise following pressure from the employees’ trade union affiliated with the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC).

Later, the employees, who held a fast in front of the Transport Bhavan, were forcibly removed from the venue by the police. This prompted the association to launch a strong protest, with its working president, C.K. Harikrishnan, beginning a fast in front of the KSRTC chief office the other day.

The corporation management should be ready to end the politically motivated transfers. Instead, it should transfer all eligible employees on a merit basis, Mr. Balachandran said. The State government should also be ready to shoulder the entire financial liability arising from the rollout of the Priyadharshini free travel scheme for women, he said.

It is also detrimental to both passengers and employees to undertake journeys in buses beyond their carrying capacity under the free travel scheme. This will also reduce the lifespan of the buses, he added.

Published - July 23, 2026 08:00 pm IST