CPI is only party that sold its Lok Sabha seat for cash, says Oommen Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 10: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Wednesday slammed the CPI for allegedly selling its Lok Sabha seat for cash.

"You are the only party which has sold its Lok Sabha seat for cash. This is now being probed by the Lok Ayukta and now you raise baseless corruption allegations against us. Are you not ashamed," Chandy asked during a debate in the state assembly.

Acting on a complaint the Lok Ayukta Monday said that the probe into the CPI allegedly 'selling' its Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat can go forward and the probe officer can also question the CPI state secretary.

Chandy made the remark after VS Sunil Kumar of the CPI demanded an adjournment motion after the chief minister's former cabinet colleague the actor-turned-politician KB Ganesh Kumar Tuesday alleged in the assembly that corruption was rampant in PWD Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju's office.

Sunil Kumar said that Chandy's government was one of the most corrupt government with allegation of corruption against practically every minister.

Ganesh Kumar, was not present in the assembly when Sunil Kumar spoke.

Ganesh Kumar is the lone representative in the house of the Kerala Congress (Pillai). He has been cut up with the ruling United Democratic Front since he lost his job as a minister following a domestic row last year.

Chandy said that it had become very clear now that the Left opposition was only interested in creating a smokescreen by raising the banner of corruption in anything and everything.

"We know your ploy. With the local bodies polls round the corner (September 2015) and the assembly polls due in 2016, you think if you raise corruption allegations we will remain idle and will not undertake any developmental works. Let me tell you, we are not going to be cowed down by your tactics; instead we will go all out in all our programmes," added Chandy.

Unhappy with Chandy's answer, the opposition legislators squatted in the well of the house, forcing Speaker Sakthan Nadar to run through the listed business of the house for the day in a flash and adjourn the house for the day.

IANS