Thiruvananthapuram: Following the removal of Tomin J Thachankary as Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) managing director, union leaders seem to have taken control of KSRTC affairs once again.

The union leaders have said that employees will not perform additional duties and called for the abolition of the driver-cum-conductor system.

On Saturday, a driver employed under this system was forced off the bus by union leaders. Jino, who is known for being a driver-cum-conductor, was travelling on the Thiruvananthapuram- Palakkad route when he was stopped by union leaders and had to face their wrath. Though he was just a driver in this route, the leaders forced him off the bus and had him replaced by another employee.

KSRTC staff alleged that trade unions have been engaged in prohibiting driver-cum-conductor employees from working since last week.

Reports state that it was Thachankary who introduced the driver-cum-conductor system. Upon evaluation it was found that this system was highly profitable for the KSRTC. 

It is alleged that the union leaders are set to reverse many of the reforms introduced by Tomin Thachankary.

Meanwhile, Advocate A Jayashankar came forward and criticised the government for removing ADGP Tomin Thachankary from the post of KSRTC chairman-cum-managing director.

"Tomin Thachankary was the angel who had appeared to save KSRTC. The government removed Thachankary even without discussing the matter in the Cabinet meeting despite KSRTC making good profits," said Jayashankar in a Facebook post.

Reacting to ongoing statements that spoke of Thachankary’s decline, Jayashankar defended the former managing director and said that Thachankary may become the next DGP once Lokanath Behera retires.

Kochi city police commissioner MP Dinesh was appointed in place of Thachankary as the MD of KSRTC.

The loss-incurring corporation had recently terminated 3,871 M-Panel (temporary) bus conductors following a directive from the high court.