THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a new turn in the row over the lottery issue in Kerala, state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday criticised appearance of Advocate General of Tamil Nadu P S Raman as counsel for the lottery promoters.
Balakrishnan, who is in Delhi to attend the CPI-M Politburo meeting, told Malayalam channels that the state's 'displeasure' would be conveyed to the Tamil Nadu government.
Raman had appeared for Megha distributors after Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who earlier represented them, withdrew in the wake of protests by state Congress.
"It is improper for the advocate general of a state to appear in a case against a decision taken by another state government. Naturally, we will convey our displeasure over the matter to Tamil Nadu government. The next meeting of the state cabinet will discuss the matter," he said.
The alleged irregularities and corruption in the operation of Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries issue had been a topic of a raging political debate in the state between the ruling LDF and the Opposition Congress-led UDF.
The appearance of Singhvi in the case last week in the Kerala High Court had been seized by the LDF to hit back at the rival.
The Congress also took strong exception to Singhvi's appearance in the case and sought action against him by the party high command.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy, who heads the UDF opposition in the state assembly, also took strong exception to Tamil Nadu AG appearing in the case alleging it amounted to violation of established norms.