KOCHI: Kizhakkambalam panchayat former development standing committee chairman M.V. George has severed ties with Twenty 20, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Anna–Kitex group of companies which rules the panchayat. While addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr George said that he has decided to quit Twenty20 in protest against the autocratic approach of Sabu George, MD of Kitex who is not allowing to spend the government’s development funds in a democratic manner. He will now work with the CPM.
“Development works in the panchayat are being carried according to the interests of Sabu George. Panchayat members have been banned from attending family functions in the houses of those who are not members of Twenty 20. They are also not allowed to attend programmes organised by social, political or cultural organisations if political party leaders or former people’s representatives are in attendance,” he alleged.
“Even important decisions which have to be discussed by panchayat members are being taken by the company management. Despite being the development standing committee chairman, not even a single penny has been allocated for development works in my ward. When questioned, I was removed from the chairmanship,” he said. Mr George, contested as an independent candidate in the local body elections held in 2015, was supported by Twenty 20 which won 17 out of the 19 wards in the panchayat. Earlier, Laly Varghese, another member had quit Twenty 20 in protest against the autocratic approach of Sabu George.
