Kochi: Actor-turned-politician K B Ganesh Kumar, a UDF ally, yesterday alleged corruption in PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju’s office, stunning the ruling coalition.
Kumar is the lone representative in the house of the Kerala Congress (Pillai). He has been cut up with the ruling United Democratic Front since he lost his job as a minister following a domestic row last year.
Ganesh raised a calling attention motion on the state of roads at Sabarimala. Suddenly, turning emotional and in movie style, he began alleging corruption by three officers in minister Ibrahim Kunju’s office.
“All the rights and privileges of a legislator are put to shame when we go to see this minister to discuss new roads.
“While he has sanctioned numerous roads under the non-plan scheme in his constituency, when we ask him if that’s possible, his staff members say no. This is one office where corruption is neck deep,” he said.
While the treasury benches looked surprised, the opposition members egged Kumar to reveal more.
C P Mohammed, who was in the speaker’s chair, ruled that if any member wished to make corruption allegations, the chair’s permission was needed.
When Kumar tried to persist, the UDF members rose from their seats. Kumar went on: “Don’t worry, I am not going to be a minister again. I would like to make that clear.”
In his reply, Ibrahim Kunju said he could not believe that it was Kumar who had spoken. “It’s most unfortunate that such a thing has happened.
“I will seriously look into all the allegations he has raised.”
Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan asked if the speaker was ready to set up an assembly committee to study the allegations by Kumar against the functioning of the PWD minister’s office.
Amid objections by the treasury benches, Mohammed called for a truce and moved to the next listed business of the house.
IANS
