Govt failed to contain soaring commodity prices ahead of Onam, alleges Pinarayi 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan has criticised the state government, alleging that prices of essential commodities have surged in Kerala during the Onam season and that the government has failed to take effective measures to control inflation. While addressing the press, he said the prices of essential items have become exorbitant, with the cost of rice, sugar, vegetables and coconut oil increasing steadily.

The price of rice has risen by around Rs 15 per kilogram, he said. He said that during the previous government’s tenure, special mechanisms were in place for market intervention, and measures to address price rises had been prepared in advance. He also said that since 2016, Supplyco had not increased the prices of 13 essential commodities. Only towards the end of the 10-year period was a nominal increase made in the prices of these subsidised items, he added.