The turnaround in the CPM state leadership’s stand on the controversial Kovalam Place issue is likely to trigger another controversy involving party veteran and Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan and the state leadership of the party. Taking a u-turn, the CPM state secretariat meeting here on Friday took the stance that it would not have any problem in giving on lease a part of the Halcyon Castle premises to the RP Group of companies owned by NRI businessman Ravi Pillai provided the hotel group withdrew the writ petition filed in the High Court claiming ownership of the Halcyon Castle and its premises and agreed that the Castle and its premises belonged to the government.
The Castle was once again in the eye of a storm following the Cabinet’s decision to allow the Kovalam Leela Hotel the right to use its premises. The decision had drawn flak from various quarters, and Leader of Opposition Achuthanandan had declared that the move would be fought tooth and nail. According to sources, despite his presence in the Secretariat meeting, he was not happy with the turnaround of the party. Paving way for another stand-off between the party and him, VS stuck to his earlier stand that the palace and its 4.113 hectares of land, on which it is situated, should be protected as heritage monument under the government’s ownership.
The compromise formula for settling the case between the government and RP Group had already been there as the latter had put forth the suggestion that it would agree to the government’s claim of ownership provided a part of the palace premises was allowed to be used on lease. The government had issued the Kovalam Palace (Taking Over by Resumption) Ordinance in 2005 for the takeover. The Ordinance was quashed by the High Court in 2011. However, the High Court had ordered maintenance of status quo and supervision of the castle by the Archaeology Department.
It is a fact that Ravi Pillai has friends among the top leadership of both the Congress party and the CPM. When the Cabinet decision triggered a controversy, Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar had told the media that any decision on the issue would be taken only after holding an all-party meeting.