Kozhikode: The Congress has released the accounts of the Wayanad rehabilitation fund, stating that the entire amount collected has been spent on land acquisition. KPCC president Sunny Joseph disclosed that Rs 5.38 crore was mobilised for the project.

He said a total of Rs 5,38,21,632 was received through two joint accounts opened in the names of the KPCC president and the Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan. The Youth Congress contributed Rs 1.05 crore. However, he noted that the expenditure on land purchase exceeded the collected amount, and funds from the party’s own accounts would now be used for house construction. He also clarified that no further fund collection would be undertaken.

In the first phase, 3 acres and 24.5 cents of land were acquired at a cost of Rs 3,68,36,388. In the second phase, 2 acres and 18 cents were purchased for Rs 2,50,30,272. Additionally, Rs 97,51,212 was spent from KPCC’s own funds. A further Rs 73,90,985 is required for registration and related procedures, he added.

The figures indicate that no funds remain from the public contributions for constructing houses. The Congress, however, maintains that houses will be built using party funds.

Meanwhile, CPM secretariat member M. Swaraj alleged that the accounts released by the Congress are misleading and questioned how the party plans to proceed with construction without sufficient funds.

Earlier, CPM and DYFI leaders had challenged the Congress to disclose the details of the funds. DYFI leader AA Rahim also alleged that the Wayanad fund was diverted for election campaigning.

The Congress had earlier announced that around 100 houses would be constructed in the Chooralmala–Mundakkai region of Wayanad as part of the rehabilitation project. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Rahul Gandhi.