LDF Govt should bring out white paper on state's finance:Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, May 19 (UNI) Former Kerala Chief Minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy today urged the newly formed CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government to bring out a ''white paper'' on the present financial condition of the state.

The previous Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government had brought out such a white paper immediately after it came into power to help the people realise the financial position of the state, he said while participating a ''Janavidhikkusesham'' programme organised by the Press Club here.

Claiming that the UDF government in its five-year term, with better financial management, had succeeded in reducing the state's debt to 88 per cent from the 137 per cent during the LDF regime, Mr Chandy said the state's financial condition had also improved and the closing balance in the treasury as on May 17 this year was Rs 290 crore. There was no overdraft or advances pending, he added.

Except agriculture pension and unemployment dole dues, the UDF government had cleared all pending pension arrears, he said.

Pointing out large-scale investment by major industrialists like TATA in West Bengal, the former Chief Minister suggested that the new LDF government should create an investment-friendly atmosphere in the state like the West Bengal Government doing there to attract businessmen.

Alleging that the LDF Government's style of functioning and activities would be quite different from while they were in the Opposition, he said the induction of 19 ministers in the cabinet pointed to that direction.

The LDF had ridiculed the 19-member UDF government as ''jumbo cabinet''and questioned the need of such a huge ministry, he said and demanded that the LDF should clear its stand on inducting 19 ministers in the new Cabinet.

Besides evaluating the reasons which led to the LDF's debacle in the elections, it would go ahead by correcting the faults, he added.

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