Congress Leader Announces Privilege Motion Against Kerala Minister Over Ayyappa Summit Funds
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala declared on Friday that the party will initiate a breach of privilege motion against Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan for allegedly misleading the Kerala Legislative Assembly regarding expenses tied to the Global Ayyappa Sangamam event. Chennithala stated he would submit the privilege motion notice to the assembly speaker on the same day, accusing Vasavan of misrepresenting financial details to the legislature.
Allegations of Misleading Statements and Financial Irregularities
Chennithala asserted that Minister Vasavan claimed all funds provided by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for the Ayyappa summit were fully reimbursed. However, recent revelations indicate that not all money was returned, leading Chennithala to label this as a deliberate misrepresentation. "Vasavan misled the legislature. I am writing to the speaker today to initiate a privilege move against him. This is a misrepresentation to the legislature and a violation of its rights. Such actions are inappropriate for a minister," Chennithala emphasized during a press conference in Alappuzha.
He further alleged that the event, organized under the guise of a global summit, involved significant fraud and embezzlement. Chennithala questioned the government's decision to award the contract to the Uralungal Society, noting that the society subsequently delegated the work to another institution. "The beds and cots purchased are missing. Money is being claimed in the names of people invited for the event. This is large-scale corruption. Vasavan is responsible for this. The minister should resign. He has completely lost the right to remain in power," Chennithala declared, calling for accountability and transparency.
Broader Criticisms of Kerala Government Policies
Expanding his critique, Chennithala highlighted broader issues within the state, asserting that the United Democratic Front (UDF) aims to build a new Kerala. He pointed to systemic failures in key sectors, stating that the healthcare system is in ruins, the education sector has collapsed, and unemployment is rampant. "Even students who secure the first rank in the Public Service Commission (PSC) are not getting appointments. Those on the PSC rank list are not being appointed. All appointments are through the backdoor. They are planning to regularize those who enter through the backdoor. Textbooks are being distributed without knowing if students have passed to the next class," Chennithala explained, underscoring governance challenges.
Congress Strategy and Leadership Decisions
Regarding political strategy, Chennithala clarified that the Congress party does not announce its chief ministerial candidate in advance. He referenced Rahul Gandhi's statement from a meeting, indicating that the Congress high command will decide on leadership after the elections. "There is no dispute or discussion about this now. Our current agenda is to unite all Congress and UDF workers in Kerala under one umbrella and be fully prepared to work towards a change in governance," Chennithala concluded, focusing on party unity and electoral preparedness.
