India

CPI(M) Leader Accuses CM and Sponsors of Making Decisions Behind Ministers’ Back

By PTI

Senior CPI(M) leader P Rajeev said on Tuesday that Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and sponsors were making key government decisions without informing ministers and officials. Rajeev cited the recent granting of bar licences to some hotels, which he claimed occurred without the knowledge of Excise Minister M Liju or senior officials in his department. He asked reporters, "Who is ruling Kerala?" and answered that the CM and sponsors were running the state and making administrative decisions without the ministers’ awareness.

CPI state secretary M V Govindan also criticised the bar licence approvals, noting that under the previous LDF government licences for hotels rated above three stars were issued only after a thorough assessment. He said that now licences are being issued without the minister’s knowledge, which he described as surprising. Govindan referred to the CM’s directive to cancel an order sanctioning repair works worth over ₹1 crore at the official residence, Cliff House, alleging that the government first approved the expenditure and then withdrew the order after scrutiny. He said this showed double standards.

Govindan added that the CPI is not afraid of any investigation into the bar licence grants. On Monday, Minister Liju said the government would investigate whether officials had acted with any "unwanted hastiness" in granting liquor licences to bars. He noted that under existing rules, framed by the previous LDF government, licences could be issued within 24 hours, even to bars that had remained closed for several years. Liju alleged that loopholes in the rules introduced by the previous government had facilitated the process and said the government would investigate why hasty decisions were taken and why the Excise Commissioner was not informed about the licence grants, promising to close all loopholes.