THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four times after it denied an all-party delegation from the state an opportunity meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has finally granted the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan-led delegation an appointment.
On Friday, the PMO informed the state government the 17-member all-party delegation from the state can meet the Prime Minister on July 19.
A host of issues, including disparities in ration allocation to the state, Central support for major development initiatives in the state and Kerala’s concerns regarding the Terms of Reference in the 15th Finance Commission, are expected to be discussed at the meeting.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is currently on a two-week visit to the US, will be back on July 18. Besides him, the 17-member delegation will have Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, ministers G Sudhakaran, P Thilothaman and Ramachandran Kadannappally, Chief Secretary Tom Jose, along with representatives of all political parties which have representation in the Assembly, said the CM’s Office.
KPCC chief MM Hassan, CPI state assistant secretary Prakash Babu, P Karunakaran of CPM, A N Radhakrishnan of BJP, E T Mohammed Basheer of IUML, Kovoor Kunjumon of RSP (Leninist), Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress(J), Venugopal of KC(B), Jose K Mani of KC(M), P C George, C K Nanu of Janata Dal and Thomas Chandy of NCP are part of the delegation.
The PMO’s denial of an appointment to the delegation from the state four times earlier, the most recent being in June, had kicked up a row.