- VD Satheesan says helicopter journey was made for an official meeting with investors.
- CM claims the trip caused no additional expenditure to the state government.
- Left leaders question his travel and accuse him of attending private events during the flood crisis.
- Satheesan also rejects criticism over having lunch during his flood review tour.
GG News Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 4th Aug: Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has hit back at the Left Front over criticism of his helicopter travel during the state’s flood crisis, maintaining that the journey was entirely official and did not cost the government any additional money.
The Left had targeted Satheesan for using a helicopter at a time when Kerala was grappling with severe flooding.
“The journey was entirely official. It was for discussions with investors. I had originally booked a Vande Bharat ticket, but the investors had limited time, which is why I travelled by helicopter,” Satheesan said.
The Chief Minister said the helicopter had already been leased by the previous LDF government and his journey therefore did not create any additional financial burden.
“My trip did not cost the government even one rupee extra. The helicopter was hired at the same rates fixed by the previous government,” he said.
According to Satheesan, the previous government had leased the helicopter for Rs 80 lakh per month until September next year, with the agreement requiring a minimum flying time.
He said that since his government assumed office, the helicopter had been used only for his official visit to Wayanad and by two ministers, adding that he had never used it to attend party conferences.
Senior CPM leader P Rajeev hit back, pointing out that Satheesan had previously criticised former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over helicopter travel.
“It is easy to comment from the gallery. Playing on the ground is different,” Rajeev said, while taking a swipe at the Chief Minister’s explanation about the investors’ meeting.
CPM leader MB Rajesh also accused Satheesan of failing to give adequate attention to disaster management while Kerala faced a serious flood situation.
“The Chief Minister of Kerala has failed to do his primary duty of monitoring the disaster situation and coordinating relief measures,” Rajesh alleged, claiming that the CM had been attending private and commercial events.
Satheesan has also rejected criticism over having lunch during a flood review tour, describing the controversy as a “malicious smear campaign”.
He said he reached Ponnani around 3 pm and merely had a meal at a friend’s house rather than attending a felicitation programme.
“I had lunch at 3 pm. Was I not supposed to eat? What exactly is my mistake?” Satheesan asked.
Drawing a comparison with Kerala’s devastating floods of 2018 and 2019, he questioned whether the chief minister at the time had remained without food throughout the disaster response.
The political exchange comes as the government faces scrutiny over its handling of the flood situation, with the ruling establishment and Opposition trading charges over disaster response and the Chief Minister’s movements.
