A modified vehicle deployed by Congress leaders for the KPCC protest march 'Samaragni' resembles the luxurious bus used by CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues during the Nava Kerala Sadas event. 

The vehicle KL78B9491, used to ferry leaders from Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram in a span of 20 days, belongs to ex-serviceman Vipin Thomas, a native of Irikkur in Kannur and is driven by 68-year-old Peravoor resident P Chathukutty. 

The vehicle now wields a hi-tech look with facilities including air conditioning, LED lighting, fibreglasses and others. Two 360-degree rotating chairs have also been fixed inside the vehicle to ensure a comfortable journey for leaders K Sudhakaran and VD Satheesan. Two makeshift benches have also been arranged inside the lorry. The entire makeover is said to have cost Rs 3 lakhs. Furthermore, 11 other vehicles will accompany the lorry.

The lavish Nava Kerala Bus worth Rs 1 crore used by Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues had created a political uproar in the state. Congress-led UDF had openly criticized the government for its lavish spending amidst the financial crisis in the state.