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Tag: Thomas Isaac

  • No federal flexibility given to states: Isaac

    States aren’t being given federal flexibility and there are efforts to undermine the federal construction, former Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac mentioned, including that federalism must be a subject of nationwide discourse.

    “Every opportunity is made to undermine the federal system…it is a terrible situation,” Isaac mentioned throughout the fifth LC Jain Memorial Lecture on ‘The Challenges of Federalism: Negotiating Centre State Tensions’.

    He mentioned the Centre’s fiscal deficit has fluctuated between 3.5 and 6 per cent since 2005-06.

    “States are not supposed to borrow beyond 3 per cent of the GSDP. The government has never complied with it…from 2005-06, central government’s fiscal deficit has fluctuated from 3.5-6 per cent. This is the basic asymmetry. No rule or law, the Centre needs to comply but states are forced to,” he added.

    Speaking in regards to the lack of federal flexibility for states underneath the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, Isaac mentioned levy of compensation cess may have continued for 2 extra years.

    “It can have some federal flexibility…when the calamity of floods got here, Kerala requested and was permitted to have a 1 per cent cess on SGST (state GST). Nothing occurred to the structure of GST. See, you can provide federal flexibility by allowing states…(some states might) need extra colleges, they wish to break FRBM Act, those that don’t wish to do it, don’t do it however even that little bit of flexibility isn’t there.

    “The compensation has stopped…it is a tax collected from sin goods like tobacco…you can continue for further two years…earlier there were negotiations, now that’s not (the case),” he mentioned.

    Under GST, as per the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, the states have been assured compensation on the compounded fee of 14 per cent from the bottom yr 2015-16 for losses arising resulting from implementation of the taxation regime for 5 years since its rollout. The compensation regime resulted in June 2022.

  • KIIFB rip-off: ED a political software of BJP, nothing else, says Thomas Isaac 

    By PTI

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior CPI(M) chief and former finance minister Thomas Isaac on Thursday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was a “political tool” of the BJP-ruled Centre which was trying to overturn improvement tasks in Kerala and push the state into monetary spoil by going after KIIFB.

    “ED is BJP’s political tool. Nothing else. They use ED to isolate, arrest or detain their political opponents or topple state governments ruled by opposition parties. They will do anything without any hesitation,” Isaac mentioned whereas chatting with reporters right here.

    The former state minister was chatting with reporters concerning the summons issued to him by ED, the plea he has moved within the Kerala High Court difficult the identical and the choice to not seem earlier than the company until the High Court decides his petition.

    Isaac mentioned that the choice to not seem earlier than the ED was not his private one and was taken after discussions and deliberations inside the social gathering which has determined to await the High Court order.

    He claimed that the ED probe into Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has a “clear cut political objective” which was to hamper the event within the southern state.

    “They want to create a belief among the public that there are huge irregularities going on in KIIFB,” he alleged.

    “The Centre is doing this and its attempts to push Kerala into financial ruin will not be successful as it cannot completely cut off all the revenue streams of the state,” he alleged.

    Isaac mentioned that the Centre can not cease Kerala’s share in central taxes or the share in GST nor can it intrude with the taxes levied within the state.

    What they will do is take away our proper to avail loans by terming the loans availed by KIIFB as that of the state authorities and thereby push Kerala into monetary constraints, he claimed.

    “The ED and certain other groups are working to achieve this objective,” he alleged.

    He additionally blamed the Congress-led UDF opposition for hampering improvement within the state after they have been in energy and alleged that they’ve now joined ED in opposition to the LDF authorities in Kerala.

    “They (Congress) have not learnt their lesson from what is happening in Delhi. They have a separate outlook when it comes to Kerala. They have no national outlook,” he mentioned.

    Isaac mentioned that the social gathering has determined to legally and politically counter the Centre’s alleged strikes to hamper improvement within the state and push it into monetary spoil.

    The plea filed by him within the High Court is a part of the authorized initiatives and as a part of the political technique, the general public shall be taken into confidence in opposition to the Centre’s actions, he mentioned and added that “if we have the people’s support, there is no need to fear any ED”.

    Isaac, in a tweet on Wednesday, mentioned that he has requested the probe company to recall the summons despatched to him and alleged that its “roving enquiry” into the matter was in opposition to the spirit of the Supreme Court orders.

    In his plea within the High Court, he has sought instructions restraining the ED from “enforcing” his private look earlier than them for “an offence that they don’t seem to be keen to disclose.

    “He has also contended that the “summons are ex-facie unlawful and past the jurisdiction of the scope of inquiry contemplated beneath the FEMA since admittedly there is no such thing as a violation of any provision of the mentioned Act.”

    The ED had served a discover to the senior Marxist chief final month, in search of his look earlier than it on July 19.

    He, nevertheless, didn’t seem earlier than the probe company, saying he needed to attend courses at a party-run institute within the state capital.

    The second discover in search of his look was despatched by the ED final week.

    Isaac had mentioned earlier than the final Assembly election, that the ED, the CAG and even the Income Tax Department have been after KIIFB.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior CPI(M) chief and former finance minister Thomas Isaac on Thursday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was a “political tool” of the BJP-ruled Centre which was trying to overturn improvement tasks in Kerala and push the state into monetary spoil by going after KIIFB.

    “ED is BJP’s political tool. Nothing else. They use ED to isolate, arrest or detain their political opponents or topple state governments ruled by opposition parties. They will do anything without any hesitation,” Isaac mentioned whereas chatting with reporters right here.

    The former state minister was chatting with reporters concerning the summons issued to him by ED, the plea he has moved within the Kerala High Court difficult the identical and the choice to not seem earlier than the company until the High Court decides his petition.

    Isaac mentioned that the choice to not seem earlier than the ED was not his private one and was taken after discussions and deliberations inside the social gathering which has determined to await the High Court order.

    He claimed that the ED probe into Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has a “clear cut political objective” which was to hamper the event within the southern state.

    “They want to create a belief among the public that there are huge irregularities going on in KIIFB,” he alleged.

    “The Centre is doing this and its attempts to push Kerala into financial ruin will not be successful as it cannot completely cut off all the revenue streams of the state,” he alleged.

    Isaac mentioned that the Centre can not cease Kerala’s share in central taxes or the share in GST nor can it intrude with the taxes levied within the state.

    What they will do is take away our proper to avail loans by terming the loans availed by KIIFB as that of the state authorities and thereby push Kerala into monetary constraints, he claimed.

    “The ED and certain other groups are working to achieve this objective,” he alleged.

    He additionally blamed the Congress-led UDF opposition for hampering improvement within the state after they have been in energy and alleged that they’ve now joined ED in opposition to the LDF authorities in Kerala.

    “They (Congress) have not learnt their lesson from what is happening in Delhi. They have a separate outlook when it comes to Kerala. They have no national outlook,” he mentioned.

    Isaac mentioned that the social gathering has determined to legally and politically counter the Centre’s alleged strikes to hamper improvement within the state and push it into monetary spoil.

    The plea filed by him within the High Court is a part of the authorized initiatives and as a part of the political technique, the general public shall be taken into confidence in opposition to the Centre’s actions, he mentioned and added that “if we have the people’s support, there is no need to fear any ED”.

    Isaac, in a tweet on Wednesday, mentioned that he has requested the probe company to recall the summons despatched to him and alleged that its “roving enquiry” into the matter was in opposition to the spirit of the Supreme Court orders.

    In his plea within the High Court, he has sought instructions restraining the ED from “enforcing” his private look earlier than them for “an offence that they don’t seem to be keen to disclose.

    “He has also contended that the “summons are ex-facie unlawful and past the jurisdiction of the scope of inquiry contemplated beneath the FEMA since admittedly there is no such thing as a violation of any provision of the mentioned Act.”

    The ED had served a discover to the senior Marxist chief final month, in search of his look earlier than it on July 19.

    He, nevertheless, didn’t seem earlier than the probe company, saying he needed to attend courses at a party-run institute within the state capital.

    The second discover in search of his look was despatched by the ED final week.

    Isaac had mentioned earlier than the final Assembly election, that the ED, the CAG and even the Income Tax Department have been after KIIFB.

  • ED points discover to ex-Kerala FM Thomas Isaac in KIIFB dealings probe

    By PTI

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has served discover to senior CPI(M) chief Thomas Isaac searching for his look earlier than it in reference to its probe into alleged violations within the monetary dealings of KIIFB when he was the Kerala Finance Minister within the earlier LDF authorities, official sources stated on Sunday.

    Sources stated Isaac has been directed to seem earlier than the probe crew on Tuesday.

    Isaac stated he has not obtained any such notices from the ED.

    “Even if I get something like it, I am not going to appear because I have more important things to do. They (ED) will have to arrest me”, he instructed PTI.

    During the marketing campaign for the state meeting elections final yr, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had criticised the functioning of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), alleging that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised its monetary dealings.

    She had additionally termed as “questionable” the operation of KIIFB.

    Sitharaman had additionally questioned the position of the KIIFB within the making of the Kerala funds.

    “I don’t know what budget making is this when all the money is given to one KIIFB. What is this organisation? We also make a budget in the Union government. We don’t give all money to one particular agency and say, ‘We’ll see’,” she had stated throughout her celebration’s public assembly in Kochi final yr.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has served discover to senior CPI(M) chief Thomas Isaac searching for his look earlier than it in reference to its probe into alleged violations within the monetary dealings of KIIFB when he was the Kerala Finance Minister within the earlier LDF authorities, official sources stated on Sunday.

    Sources stated Isaac has been directed to seem earlier than the probe crew on Tuesday.

    Isaac stated he has not obtained any such notices from the ED.

    “Even if I get something like it, I am not going to appear because I have more important things to do. They (ED) will have to arrest me”, he instructed PTI.

    During the marketing campaign for the state meeting elections final yr, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had criticised the functioning of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), alleging that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has criticised its monetary dealings.

    She had additionally termed as “questionable” the operation of KIIFB.

    Sitharaman had additionally questioned the position of the KIIFB within the making of the Kerala funds.

    “I don’t know what budget making is this when all the money is given to one KIIFB. What is this organisation? We also make a budget in the Union government. We don’t give all money to one particular agency and say, ‘We’ll see’,” she had stated throughout her celebration’s public assembly in Kochi final yr.

  • Decentralisation sustained regardless of change of govts solely in Kerala: Thomas Isaac

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Decentralisation by way of People’s planning has introduced in a paradigm shift in growth within the state, says former finance minister T M Thomas Isaac, one of many architects of People’s Planning. 

    How do you assess People’s Planning, 25 years later? In all domains transferred to native our bodies, there was exceptional enchancment. Service supply has tremendously improved. Look on the variety of folks making use of public well being sector companies. Now, they’ve moved as much as income-generation programmes. Kerala is the one place the place decentralisation has sustained, regardless of common change of governments.   

    What’s the rationale for its success, when comparable experiments failed?It is the brainchild of EMS. A basic break in current energy construction was mooted to get such a mass motion going. Setting apart 40% of funds was a revolutionary thought then. A conducive setting for decentralisation was created. In spite of extreme monetary crunch, no authorities will dare to chop plan-fund for native our bodies. 

    What is the utilisation sample of native our bodies?  Initially, solely 20-25% was spent within the monetary yr. The remaining, we requested them to spend the subsequent yr. On common, about 80% of the plan funds are utilised. The relaxation are carried over to subsequent yr. 

    How skeptical was the political management when PP was launched in 1996?A number of like EMS have been satisfied that this was the way in which ahead. Since EMS was a political heavyweight, nobody dared to oppose. But many have been skeptical. 

    Whose position was most vital in conceptualising PP?Initially, when EMS advised such an initiative, it was determined to arrange the Sen Committee. But EMS stated it gained’t do and a programme to mobilise folks was the necessity of the hour. That’s once we thought that such planning might be made right into a programme. The thought was that of EMS and we labored out the precise framework of planning. 

    Were there makes an attempt to sabotage it?A bit within the Congress was not eager. They lack the type of organisation and functionality required for this. Since People’s Planning concerned planning from beneath, they felt they might be elbowed out. Their most sinister transfer got here once they alleged corrupt motives. But for A Okay Antony, we’d have been in deep trouble. 

    Do you suppose any corrective steps have been wanted within the plan? We underestimated the time required for implementation of the programme. Initially, we thought one in depth coaching shall be sufficient. We didn’t issue within the time wanted for institutional modifications. 

    Which sectors couldn’t yield desired outcomes? Agriculture and trade manufacturing are sectors which have scope for enchancment. Challenges in sanitation have to be overcome.

  • Thomas Isaac notable absentee as govt set for People’s Planning silver jubilee gala 

    Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scripting historical past with its resounding victory, the Left in Kerala appears to be now treading the trail of erasing historical past too. The Pinarayi authorities in Kerala is all set to have a good time the silver jubilee of ‘People’s Planning’, the path-breaking socio-political motion that had introduced in a paradigm shift in state’s developmental perspective and course of. Just one minor glitch although – Thomas Isaac, the prime architect and key propagator of this revolutionary motion, has been sidelined as a again bencher.  

    LSG minister MV Govindan will preside over the occasion that will probably be inaugurated by CM Pinarayi Vijayan at 4.30pm on Tuesday at Gorky Bhavan. Speaker MB Rajesh, former CM Oommen Chandy, Transport Minister Antony Raju, opposition chief VD Satheesan and planning board vice chairman VK Ramachandran will share the dais together with former LSG minister Paloli Mohammedkutty who was accountable for the portfolio when the motion was launched. 

    Isaac is among the many invitees to the restricted viewers occasion and his identify figures because the thirty first felicitation speaker among the many 35 audio system, in his capability as former planning board member. 

    People’s Planning, a social experiment launched by the Left authorities in August 1996 to decentralise powers to native our bodies for efficient plan implementation was a much-debated mass motion. Ignited by Left ideologue EMS Namboodiripad, it was a staff led by Thomas Isaac, then Planning Board member and EM Sreedharan together with others, who led the motion. Leaders of CMP and Kerala Congress (Scaria) which aren’t even represented in meeting will converse earlier than Isaac. 

    Back in 1996, decentralisation and other people’s planning have been seen skeptically, as 1000’s of panchayats needed to provide you with plans. It was a humongous process, whereby Isaac together with a staff needed to carry collectively 1000’s of paperwork and plans, working with no matter was obtainable. In truth the motion went on to turn into such a significant success that even senior Congress leaders like Manishankar and AK Antony have been all reward for Isaac at a later date.

    On August 17, the Pinarayi authorities will have a good time 25 years of the motion, with a slew of political personalities in attendance, together with chief minister, ministers, former chief ministers, former LSGD ministers, representatives of all political events, bureaucrats together with every and everybody who had contributed or was a part of the motion within the final 25 years. Ironically Isaac, who may nicely be termed one of many few residing authors of the motion, appears to have been intentionally given the chilly shoulder.

    “It’s unimaginable – the level of pettiness being played out by the political leadership in the state. Obviously, it’s an attempt to eradicate a few select names associated with the history of decentralisation and people’s planning. Those inaugurating the programme and attending the same, have actually played no role in it at all,” stated sources.

    In truth, majority of accessible literature on Kerala’s People’s Planning belong to Isaac. ‘Local Democracy and Development: The Kerala People’s Campaign for Decentralized Planning’, a greatest vendor co-authored with Richard W Franke has been translated into many languages and has had a number of editions until date. In addition, he has introduced in a sequence of works on its idea and implementation, the individuals behind it, its course of and different features. Most idea papers and literature on decentralisation belong to Isaac. 

    Negating the position of Isaac in individuals’s planning, clearly reeks of politicking. It is evidently an try and eradicate the position performed by Isaac, who has by no means figured within the good books of Pinarayi. This might be simply one other occasion of Pinarayi flexing his autocratic clout to strengthen simply who pulls the strings of the Leftist puppetry present being performed out within the corridors of energy, with none to oppose.

    Noticeably, Isaac, a former finance minister, was denied in seat within the final meeting polls. Despite repeated makes an attempt, Thomas Isaac was unavailable for feedback

  • Six-member Central staff to go to Kerala as we speak amid rise in Covid circumstances

    Amid a surge in Covid-19 circumstances in Kerala, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has determined to depute a six-member high-level multi-disciplinary staff to the state to “collaborate” with the state’s well being authorities for administration of the outbreak.
    The Central staff to Kerala is headed by Dr S Ok Singh, Director, National Centre for Disease Control, the ministry stated in a press release. It will attain the state on Friday and go to just a few districts, it stated.
    Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “The team will aid state’s ongoing efforts in #COVID19 management.”
    Kerala reported over 22,000 coronavirus circumstances for the third day in a row — it logged 22,064 new circumstances and 128 deaths on Thursday — taking the caseload to 33,49,365 and the toll to 16,585.
    Meanwhile, the BJP and the state’s ruling CPI(M) traded barbs over the scenario, with the previous blaming “politics of appeasement” for the rise in circumstances in Kerala and criticising the state authorities for stress-free curbs.
    “The Kerala government has tried to utilise this pandemic for political benefits and that’s the whole purpose of these relaxations. In fact, there was fake propaganda right from the beginning of the pandemic when the state government claimed that they have contained the Covid-19 due to their effective management,” Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan instructed Republic TV on Thursday.

    “How some irresponsible politicians puts country at risk of COVID19 3rd wave, even as narendramodi govt has worked so hard to defeat Covid19SecondWave,” Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar tweeted.
    BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday blamed “Eid relaxations” for the rise in circumstances, whereas BJP chief Amit Malviya stated the Muslim-majority Malappuram district clocked over 4,000 circumstances in a day.

    Hitting again on the BJP, senior CPI(M) chief and former Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac urged the Centre to offer extra vaccines to Kerala than “free advice”. He stated Kerala has the bottom seroprevalence of 44 per cent, and MP the best at 79 per cent. “It implies that Kerala has managed Covid better. Its multiple of seroprevalence to reported case load is also lowest. Therefore present spike in case load is due to failure of Centre in providing sufficient vaccine,” he stated.
    “Kerala with an active case load of 1.54 lakh is contributing 37.1 per cent of the total active cases in the country, with a growth rate of 1.41 in the last seven days. Average daily cases being reported in the state are above 17,443,” the ministry stated.

  • With Isaac out and KM Mani no extra, who will steer Kerala’s economic system?

    Express News Service
    KOCHI: For the LDF, the denial of the ticket to TM Thomas Isaac, the finance minister within the outgoing Left authorities, means a brand new face will maintain the workplace if the entrance returns to energy. Likewise is the case with the UDF after the 2019 demise of veteran politician Ok M Mani, who had been a everlasting fixture within the entrance’s finance ministry for the previous a number of phrases.The names being mentioned for the finance portfolio within the LDF camp are Ok N Balagopal, P Rajeev and Ok Ok Shailaja. In the UDF, after a number of a long time, Congress is anticipated to take again the portfolio from Kerala Congress. The title being broadly mentioned is V D Satheesan.

    Balagopal, who’s an LLM holder, is anticipated to have a straightforward outing from the Left bastion of Kottarakkara. As a Rajya Sabha MP in 2010, he had raised a number of points associated to finance and had participated in Budget debates. His brother Ok N Harilal, a professor on the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, is a member of the State Planning Board.

    “It remains to be seen if the new LDF government will give the key portfolio to Balagopal, who is relatively a fresh face even though he has been a Rajya Sabha MP,” mentioned Jose Sebastian, an economist and retired affiliate professor at Thiruvananthapuram-based Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation. He mentioned P Rajeev, who can be a former Rajya Sabha MP and contested from Kalamassery this time, might have a greater likelihood at securing the portfolio. 

    According to a different supply, nonetheless, Rajeev’s clear-cut views on the training sector makes him a most well-liked candidate for the training portfolio. The drawback confronted by Rajeev, nonetheless, is that the competition in Kalamassery just isn’t straightforward. “It’s a neck-and-neck fight there as the constituency is a UDF stronghold,” added the supply.

    Shailaja, who is anticipated to win simply from Mattannur, can be a robust contender for the finance portfolio if the Left involves energy once more. “For her good work in the health ministry, Shailaja teacher deserves an upgrade in her portfolio. Besides, it will also send out the message that she’s the second in command in the ministry, given the fact that all other senior Communist leaders have been denied a seat this time,” mentioned one other supply.

    Though Jose Ok Mani, if his KC(M) wins six or extra seats, might stake declare for the finance ministry, it’s unlikely that the CPM will permit this key portfolio to be dealt with by a junior accomplice, the supply added.Meanwhile, if the UDF beats all pre-poll surveys to return to energy, V D Satheesan — who is anticipated to win simply from Paravoor — would be the selection for the finance ministry portfolio, sources mentioned. “He is known for his interest in finance-related issues. I would say he is a strong contender for the position if UDF comes to power,” mentioned Ok V Joseph, economist and director at Institute of International Migration and Development.

    Satheesan had put the LDF authorities on the defensive on varied finance-related points within the meeting over the previous 5 years. His YouTube channel ‘Dialogue with VDS’, the place he interviewed a number of key economists and businessmen together with Isaac, was well-received by netizens.

  • CPM proclaims record of 83 candidates for Kerala polls, CM Pinarayi Vijayan to contest from Dharmadam

    By Express News Service
    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Disregarding the voices of dissent inside the occasion, the ruling CPM on Wednesday introduced the record of candidates for the Assembly elections. Party state secretary-in-charge A Vijayaraghavan stated numerous winnable components pressured the occasion to stay to its stand and efforts will probably be taken to persuade the employees who’ve considerations over sure candidates.

    The occasion has introduced 83 of the full 85 seats the place its members or party-supported independents are contesting. Candidates for Manjeswaram, a seat the place the native occasion items raised opposition over the selection of KR Jayananda, and Devikulam will probably be introduced later. CITU chief P Nandakumar will contest from Ponnani avenue the place numerous occasion employees took to the streets opposing his candidature. Also, regardless of the opposition by the native items, occasion’s state management determined to present the Kuttyadi seat to its new ally Kerala Congress (M).

    Of the 83 candidates, 9 are party-backed independents together with incumbent larger schooling minister KT Jaleel at Thavanoor.

    Five incumbent ministers, together with Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Works Minister G Sudhakaran, should not within the fray. DYFI nationwide president and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas is the candidate for the Bepur seat.

    ALSO READ | Thomas Isaac, G Sudhakaran amongst CPM ministers to not contest once more

    There are twelve ladies candidates, together with incumbent minister KK Shailaja and J Mercykutty Amma. Shelna Nishad Ali, daughter-in-law of six-time Congress MLA Okay Mohammed Ali, will combat the Aluva seat for the LDF. 75-year-old chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the eldest within the record and 27-year-old SFI chief Sachin Dev is the youngest. Four of the candidates are under the age of 30 and 24 are above the age of 60. There are two PhD holders, two MBBS diploma holders, 14 post-graduates and 42 candidates, together with 22 legislation diploma holders.

    List of the candidates

    Thiruvananthapuram

    Parassala- CK HareendranNeyyattinkara- Okay AnsalanVattiyoorkavu- VK PrasanthKattakkada- IB SatheeshNemom- V SivankuttyKazhakkoottam- Kadakampally SurendranVarkala – V JoyVamanapuram- DK MuraliAttingal- OS AmbikaAruvikkara – G Stephen

    Kollam

    Kollam- M MukeshEravipuram- M NoushadChavara- Dr Sujith VijayanKundara- J Mercykutty AmmaKottarakkara- KN Balagopal

    Pathanamthitta

    Aranmula- Veena GeorgeKonni- KU Janeesh Kumar

    Alappuzha

    Chengannur- Saji CheriyanKayamkulam- U PrathibhaAmbalappuzha – H SalamAroor- Daleema JojoMavelikkara- MS Arun KumarAlappuzha- PP Chitharanjan

    Kottayam

    Ettumanoor- VN VasavanPuthuppally- Jaik C ThomasKottayam- Okay Anil Kumar

    Ernakulam

    Kochi- KJ MaxiVypeen- KN UnnikrishnanThrikkakkara- Dr J JacobThrippunithura- M SwarajKalamassery- P RajeevKothamangalam- Antony JohnKunnathunadu- PV SreenijanAluva – Shelna Nishad AliErnakulam- Shaji George

    Idukki

    Udumbanchola- MM ManiDevikulam- not introduced

    Thrissur

    Irinjalakkuda- R BinduVadakkancherry- Xaviour ChittilappillyManalur- Murali PerunellyChelakkara- Okay RadhakrishnanGuruvayoor- AkbarPuthukkad- KK RamachandranKunnamkulam- AC Moideen

    Palakkad

    Thrithala- MB RajeshTarur- PP SumodKongad- SanthakumariShoranur- P MummikuttiOttappalam- PremkumarMalampuzha- A PrabhakaranAlathur- KD PrasenanNenmara- Okay Babu

    Wayanad

    Mananthavady- OR KeluBatheri- MS Viswanathan

    Malappuram

    Thavanur- KT JaleelPonnani- P NandakumarNilambur- PV AnwarTanur- AbdurahimanPerinthalmanna- Muhammad MusthafaKondotty- Sulaiman HajiMankada- RasheedaliVengara- JijiVandoor- P Mithuna

    Kozhikode

    Perambra- TP RamakrishnanBalussery- Sachin DevKozhikode North- Thottathil RaveendranBepur- PA Mohammed RiyasThiruvambady- Linto JosephKoduvally- Karat RazackKunnamangalam- PTA RaheemKoyilandy- Kanathil Jameela

    Kannur

    Dharmadam- Pinarayi VijayanThalassery- AN ShamseerPayyannur- TI MadhusoodananKalliasseri- M VijinAzhikode- KV SumeshPervaoor- Zakeer HussainMattannur- KK ShailajaTaliparamba _ MV Govindan

    Kasaragod

    Uduma – CH KunhambuManjeswaram- not announcedThrikkaripur- M Rajagopal 

  • ED information case towards KIIFB, could query Thomas Isaac

    By Express News Service
    KOCHI: Two days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, throughout her go to to Kerala, criticised the state price range allocation to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), Enforcement Directorate (ED) that comes underneath the Centre on Tuesday registered a case towards the board for allegedly violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) guidelines.

    At the reception assembly for BJP state president Okay Surendran’s Vijaya Yatra in Tripunithura on Sunday, Sitharaman known as the state’s price range a KIIFB price range. The transfer additionally comes a day after one other central company, CBI, knowledgeable the Supreme Court that Unitac Builders was a proxy firm shaped with the information of officers to obtain international funds for the state authorities’s LIFE Mission undertaking. 

    According to ED sources, the company has intensified its probe into the funds obtained by KIIFB in violation of norms. State Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac should be questioned as a part of the probe, they mentioned.Notices have been despatched to KIIFB CEO Okay M Abraham and officers of Axis Bank — the banking companion of the enterprise — to look for interrogation subsequent week. 

    “We had conducted a preliminary probe since the CAG came out with a report against KIIFB last year. We found that foreign funds were received without prior sanction of the Centre violating FEMA norms. Similarly, the masala bonds were raised without any permission,” an ED supply mentioned.

    ‘Questioning of Isaac inevitable’

    According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) official, questioning of Isaac is inevitable. “Isaac is very much involved in the entire Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) concept. We have to record his statement as part of the investigation. First, the details will be collected from the KIIFB CEO,” he mentioned.

    The case is probed by ED Deputy Director Prasanth Kumar. Earlier, the CAG discovered that the KIIFB had raised D2,150 crore from the worldwide market with out the Central authorities’s consent. The CAG famous that KIIFB had overstepped its authorized bounds by issuing masala bonds to boost cash from international markets in violation of Article 293 (1) of the Constitution. The ED had additionally written to RBI concerning its concern concerning the operations of KIIFB.

  • Congress leaders tear into ‘cruel’ and ‘sarcastic’ Isaac, Jayarajan

    By Express News Service
    T’PURAM/PALAKKAD: Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC chief Mullappally Ramachandran on Tuesday got here down closely on Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac and Industries Minister EP Jayarajan for belittling the PSC rank-holders who’ve been protesting in entrance of the Secretariat. The ministers’ reactions had been merciless and offending to the job-seekers, Mullappally stated.On Monday, two rank-holders had tried to immolate themselves. A lady, Laya, broke down in entrance of reporters on the venue, and the photographs and video of the scene went viral. 

    Isaac on Tuesday termed the youths’ stir as “kerosene protest” and accused the Opposition of instigating them. Jayarajan stated it was unattainable to terminate short-term staffers and the federal government has determined to regularise them. Mullappally stated the ministers won’t ever perceive the woes of the rank-holders who’ve been ready for presidency jobs for lengthy.

    “Children of several CPM leaders have gone to capitalist countries to pursue higher education, which explains why they are unable to see the pain of the youths coming from economically weaker sections. Isaac should have never come out with such a deplorable statement,” he stated. He additionally took a jibe at Jayarajan who needed to step down from workplace as a consequence of nepotism at first of the federal government’s tenure.

    At a reception for his Aishwarya Kerala Yatra in Palakkad, Chennithala stated, “Isaac is obsessed with power. That is why he is being sarcastic about the agitation.” “The statements that those who are agitating are part of a conspiracy and the Opposition is behind it do not befit a Communist minister. What is the difference between PM Narendra Modi and Isaac? The PM had called the farmers protesting on the Delhi border “andolan jeevi” (skilled protester), which is analogous to Isaac’s assertion,” he stated.