Thiruvananthapuram: Graft charges to the fore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With electioneering coming to an end for the Pala bypoll, both the fronts have scaled up the attack on each other in a bid to woo the voters.

The possible arrest of Muslim League leader and former minister Ibrahim Kunju in connection with Palarivattom flyover corruption issue has been made a big issue by the LDF with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan leading from the front accusing the previous Oommen Chandy of being a den of corruption. The UDF, taken aback by the vigilance move to arrest Mr Kunju, sought to counter the  LDF with opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleging corruption worth crores of rupees behind Transgrid project to be implemented by KSEBL for transmission of electricity. The project is being implemented through KIIFB.

Mr Chennithala alleged mysterious dealing in first two projects; Kottayam Lens project and the Kolathunadu project. The agreements for these two projects were given in a much higher rate than the basic rates of the KSEB, he said.

The Chief Minister dismissed the opposition leader's allegations saying they were baseless and being made to misguide people on the eve of the bypoll. "While talking about consuming government food, I was referring to only those indulging in corruption," Mr Vijayan retorted. "But Why is the opposition leader getting restless about it? Do you think the government will put on hold the action against the corrupt just because Mr Chennithala is getting restless?" On Mr Chennithala's statement that Mr Vijayan will consume government food in connection with Lavalin case, the Chief Minister said, "I have consumed government food but it was not because of corruption. So, don't try to threaten us," he said.

BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas accused the LDF of corruption and said Mr Vijayan would soon go down in the history as the first chief minister to go behind the bars in corruption case.

The electioneering in Pala which was originally scheduled to end on Saturday was advanced by a day in view of Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi day. However, the political parties will get two days for silent campaign as the constituency goes to poll on September 23.