By PTI
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday backed PWD Minister PA Mohammed Riyas’s latest assertion within the state Assembly that MLAs shouldn’t go to his workplace with contractors of assorted initiatives, saying there was no conflicting view within the CPI(M) on the matter.
“It is not right for MLAs to take contractors with them while visiting the ministers’ office,” the Chief Minister advised reporters right here responding to a question on the alleged variations throughout the CPI(M) legislature celebration on the assertion of Riyas.
“There is no conflicting view in the CPI(M) on the matter”, Vijayan mentioned, throwing his weight behind the PWD minister, who can be his son-in-law.
Vijayan mentioned when he was the state Electricity Minister in 1996, a MLA had visited him with a contractor.
“Then I told him that this is not part of your job,” he mentioned, and asserted that the MLAs needn’t go to the ministers’ workplace with contractors.
Making an announcement within the state meeting on October 7, Riyas had mentioned that the MLAs shouldn’t go to his workplace with contractors as it should create hassle sooner or later.
“The MLAs need not visit the minister’s office with contractors. That will create issues in the future. The contractors have their associations. They can approach the ministry if they have any issues to discuss,” Riyas advised the Assembly.
When a bit of media reported that Riyas was criticised within the legislative celebration assembly of the CPI(M) legislators over the problem, forcing him to tender an apology, the Minister had rejected it, saying not one of the MLAs had raised such a problem.
Earlier, the ruling CPI(M) had additionally come out in assist of Riyas saying what he mentioned was the stand of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Reacting to a question, celebration state secretary in-charge A Vijayaraghavan had mentioned the minister was explaining the stand of the celebration and the federal government.