Amid a controversy over the distribution of social security pensions to beneficiaries inside the United Democratic Front (UDF)’s election committee office at Pulpatta panchayat in Malappuram district, Minister for Local Self-Governments K.M. Shaji told the Assembly on Thursday that the official responsible for the distribution has been removed.Responding to a Calling Attention Motion moved by Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA K. Premkumar, he said that it was an isolated incident and the action is being taken to ensure that it is not repeated. “Since the official responsible for doorstep delivery of welfare pensions was down with fever, he was unable to distribute pensions on time. Following this, as per the request of the beneficiaries, it was decided to conduct the distribution outside a building which was used as the UDF’s election committee office. However, due to inclement weather, the distribution was later shifted inside the room. The building was used as an election committee office only during the time of the election. No one from these wards have raised a complaint about the distribution,” said the Minister.Beneficiaries queue upA video showing pension distribution at the UDF committee office, with a long line of beneficiaries queuing up to draw their pensions, had gone viral. Officials of the Pulpatta Service Cooperative Bank, under the control of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), as well as the IUML’s panchayat president, were also seen in the video.Mr. Premkumar said that within a few days of the UDF coming to power, such instances of abuse of power were being reported. The distribution of pension in a political party office was a violation of the Finance department’s order of 2016, which stipulated doorstep delivery of welfare pensions. Till that time, even old beneficiaries who had serious health issues had to queue up in the treasury to get their pension.“On June 2, senior citizens were made to queue up at the UDF election committee office at Pulpatta till 8.30 p.m. This is a clear case of corruption and abuse of power. The authorities of the panchayat, ruled by the IUML Muslim League, were also present,” he alleged.Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the allegations of corruption cannot be made as part of the Calling Attention Motion and hence cannot go into the records. Although Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan objected to this, the Speaker maintained that such allegations can be made during the discussion or through other means available in the Assembly procedures. Published - June 04, 2026 05:07 pm IST