Kerala Governor P Sathasivam to lead team to APJ Abdul Kalam's funeral
Chandy said a seat was set apart for the speaker also in the aircraft
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will send a delegation led by Governor P. Sathasivam to attend the funeral of former president A.P. J. Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram on Thursday. The delegation will also include Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan, water resources minister P.J. Joseph and social welfare minister Dr M.K. Muneer. This was stated by the Chief Minister in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Speaker N. Sakthan said that he too had wished to attend the funeral. Mr Chandy said a seat was set apart for the speaker also in the aircraft. However, the speaker himself offered to withdraw from the delegation as Thursday is the last day of the Assembly.
Mr Chandy added that the state had asked the central government to bring Kalam's body to Thiruvananthapuram as the city was his workplace for nearly two decades.
However, the centre did not agree to the demand, Mr Chandy said. Sources said that a special aircraft with the delegation would leave for Madurai on Thursday, which would then leave for Rameswaram in a helicopter.