'Tormenting private bus owners under guise of protecting KSRTC, will contest against Ganesh in Pathanapuram'

KOLLAM: Robin Gireesh, a bus owner known for raising issues related to the All India Tourist Permit, has announced that he will contest against Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar in next year’s Assembly elections. Gireesh, who is contesting in the local body elections from Melukavu panchayat in Kottayam as an independent candidate, revealed that he plans to contest from Pathanapuram assembly constituency next year.

Gireesh first became known to the public through his strong responses regarding the All India Tourist Permit. He now alleges that the government is exploiting private bus owners under the guise of protecting the public transport sector. According to him, the government is “looting” bus owners in the name of permits. He also points out that even though the government insists on issuing permits only for new buses, most buses operated by the government are old vehicles. Gireesh says his decision to contest the elections is part of his protest against government policies that he believes are destroying the private bus sector.

“My aim is to continue in politics. I don’t know how to make big speeches or give huge promises. I will talk to people in simple words that they understand. This election is only the beginning. I will also contest in the upcoming Assembly elections. I wish to contest from Pathanapuram, Minister Ganesh Kumar’s constituency. No other minister has damaged the public transport sector as much as he has,” Robin Gireesh said in an interview with a private media outlet.