Thiruvananthapuram, July 2 (BPNS)
State Congress leaders have come out strongly against the party Ernakulam MP, Hibi Eaden moving a private bill suggesting Kochi be the state capital instead of Thiruvananthapuram.
Leader of the Opposition in Kerala assembly and senior leader of the Congress party, VD Satheeshan said that Congress party has never discussed such a subject. He also said that Hibi had moved the bill without consulting the party and added that the party had asked Hibi to withdraw the bill.
It may be noted that Hibi Eaden, Member of Parliament from Ernakulam had moved a private bill in parliament and the Union home ministry sought the opinion of the Kerala government on the same. The Union Home ministry asked the state government to immediately respond to the MPs private bill . However the state government rejected the demand and the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan noted in the file that the demand was impractical and hence rejected it.
Satheeshan while speaking to media persons at Kochi said, “ Hibi is like my younger brother and when I noticed the news, I had immediately contacted him and told him about the party’s dissatisfaction on this. This is not the decision of the party. He has moved a private bill and party has asked him to withdraw the bill with immediate effect.”
He said that he was also from Kochi but never had the urge to make it the capital city and added that Thiruvananthapuram was a good capital city for Kerala.
Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram and senior leader of Congress party, Dr. Shashi Tharoor told media persons that there was no need for such a demand.
Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Vadakara constituency, K. Muraleedharan said that the demand of Hibi Eaden has to be rejected outright and added that Thiruvananthapuram was a good place to be the capital of the state. He asked whether he could demand Vadakara as the capital of Kerala and added that these were all immature suggestions.
Several senior state Congress leaders came out strongly against the demand of Hibi Eaden. Former minister and senior leader of the Congress, Pandalam Sudhakaran in a Facebook asked Hibi not to go for Tuglak reforms.
Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee President and former Deputy Speaker, Palode Ravi said that there was no merit in Hibi’s demand and added that he was rejecting it outright.
CPI-M leader and Kerala Industries minister, P. Rajeeve told media persons that the demand of Hibi Eaden is an indication that he was the candidate for Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat again.
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