THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has lamented that there was too much negativism in the state and that development projects were first dragged into unwanted controversies.
Inaugurating the UDF rally at Gandhi Park grounds here, he said if the Vizhinjam project were anywhere outside Kerala, it would have been a reality 25 years ago. It was the LDF that had brought Adani to the state first, he added.
He alleged that the Opposition had been trying to delay the development works of the UDF government by raking up controversies. But, he said the government would not allow anyone to delay the projects because the UDF’s slogan itself is ‘development and care.’
“One peculiar aspect of Kerala is that anything and everything first gets entangled in needless controversies. The latest is about handing over the proposed Vizhinjam port to Adani Ports. We are prepared to discuss it with anyone and everything will be done only in the most transparent manner,” said Mr Chandy.
RSP leader N. K. Premachandran, who is the south zone rally captain, expressed happiness that the differences of opinion in the UDF and the Congress had been settled.
“In the past four years, the UDF government has done much for the state, but for some strange reason the achievements have not reached the people. This is the best occasion to reach out to the people and we are happy that it’s being done,” he said.
The second zonal rally comprising Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram districts was inaugurated by Panakkad Hyder Ali Shihabd Thangal of the Indian Union Muslim which was launched from Malappuram.
The third zonal rally in Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod districts was inaugurated by JD (U) state president M.P. Veerendra Kumar in Kozhikode.
The rallies did not evoke much interest among the locals except for the posse of Muslim League and JD (U) supporters who attended them. All the three rallies will be concluded after six days.
The fourth zonal rally will be inaugurated by KC (M) chairman and Finance Minister K. M. Mani in Kottayam on May 27.
