CPM reiterates demand for sponsor's name after Kerala CM asks if Pinarayi's flight arrangers were revealed

Thee political row in Kerala over privately funded travel has escalated after Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary M V Govindan called on Chief Minister V D Satheesan to reveal the names of individuals sponsoring his air travel.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Govindan challenged the Chief Minister's decision to conceal who funded a recent private chartered flight. The opposition demand came a day after Satheesan defended his travel to rain-hit Malappuram by pointing to similar journeys undertaken by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The CPM-led opposition LDF has alleged that UDF administration is turning the state into a major centre of corruption.

Opposition demands identity of private sponsors

Addressing the press, Govindan stated that the public would firmly reject the government's stance. "So the intention is to turn Keralam into a major hub of corruption. The people of Keralam -- the discerning people of Keralam, cutting across party lines -- will strongly oppose this unconstitutional and wrong stance and correct it. With this firm message, Keralam is moving forward," Govindan told reporters.

He argued that accepting hospitality from business figures breaches the constitutional oath of office. "We are stating clearly -- this is unbecoming of a Chief Minister. No Chief Minister has the right to say that they will carry this out this again," he added. Govindan also questioned who backed minister overseas visits and funded chartered flights to Mangaluru and Malappuram for Satheesan. He alleged that Satheesan evaded questions and walked away from journalists the previous day. "What the Chief Minister firmly asserts is, 'We will continue this. Let it go on.' If the Chief Minister takes such a stance, officials will adopt the same approach," Govindan remarked.

Further alleging linked controversies, Govindan cited the recent arrest of an accused in an MDMA drug seizure in Kasaragod, claiming ties to the Chief Minister's camp and an uninvestigated international smuggling network. He also referenced reports of a liquor businessman taking Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji abroad. Commenting on Shaji using a friend's Range Rover as an official car, Govindan remarked, "There is no free lunch. Nothing happens for free; nothing is given".

Chief minister defends emergency chartered flight

The opposition's onslaught follows Chief Minister Satheesan's weekly Cabinet press conference on Wednesday, where he refused to name the Malayali acquaintance who arranged his chartered flight. Satheesan explained that the emergency trip was necessary after six people died in flood-affected Malappuram. "If I had not gone, the news would have been that the CM did not even visit despite six people dying. There was no other way to go. An acquaintance arranged the aircraft. What is wrong with that?" Satheesan asked.

Rejecting allegations of impropriety, Satheesan asserted that no state exchequer funds were used and that emergency assistance does not buy government favours. "Those who arrange aircraft are not people who will come tomorrow seeking a favour. If anyone comes asking for such a favour, the government here is not one that will provide it," he said.

Satheesan turned the spotlight back onto his political rivals by citing past precedents. "Pinarayi Vijayan has used aircraft arranged by private individuals and private helicopters several times. Did anyone reveal their names then?" he asked. He added that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had also travelled in privately arranged aircraft, emphasising that providing an aircraft during a crisis does not create an obligation. Satheesan firmly ruled out using public relief money for travel. "People contribute to the Distress Relief Fund to help the poor. We will not undertake air travel using money from the disaster relief fund," he stated.

Row expands to foreign trips and luxury cars

The controversy has expanded beyond chartered flights to cover overseas tours and official vehicles used by state ministers. Satheesan defended foreign visits by cabinet ministers, noting that overseas Malayalee organisations cover all expenses for official events. "When applications for foreign travel come before me, we look at whether there is any expenditure involved. If there is no expenditure, what is the problem?" he questioned. He pointed out that over 1,000 expatriate organisations operate in the UAE alone. "Especially when a new government has come to power, organisations would want the CM and ministers to participate in their programmes. They themselves will buy the tickets," Satheesan noted, adding that similar trips occurred under the previous regime.

Addressing the vehicle dispute, Satheesan explained that Minister K M Shaji used a friend's Range Rover because his officially allotted vehicle was a decade old and constantly broke down. He noted that a state white paper had initially halted car purchases due to tight finances, but ministers could not be left stranded on roads. "Can ministers be left stranded on the road while travelling?" he asked. Meanwhile, the state's rented helicopter contract expired on September 19, with a decision on renewal pending review.

Left Democratic Front sharpens corruption charges

The Left Democratic Front leadership has stepped up its attacks, describing the state administration as a "sponsored government". CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam alleged that Chief Minister Satheesan had become a "puppet in the hands of the ultra-rich," claiming that "unknown financial powers" were funding official travel.

Govindan asserted that Congress MLAs have begun raising internal concerns about the ongoing controversies. He dismissed the Chief Minister's arguments as cover-up tactics. "That means trying to escape by saying something or the other whenever an issue comes up. That is a very key tactic. Let all of that come out in detail," Govindan said, promising that full details would soon emerge.