Rs 1.2 lakh for Christmas cake, Rs 16 lakh for food: know details from CM Pinarayi Vijayan's Christmas banquet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The food alone in the Christmas banquet organised by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan touched a whopping cost of Rs 16 lakh. On January 3, the Chief Minister invited elite leaders in society for a banquet which was organized in Muscat hotel, Thiruvananthapuram. The cake served at the function alone cost Rs 1.2 lakh.

Rs 10,725 was splashed by the government for preparing the invitation card for the event. The Public Administration Department issued an order allocating these three amounts from the government treasury.

The total cost of food was Rs 16,08,195. Rs 1.2 lakh was allotted to an organization called 'Square One Homemade Treats' near St. Mary's School, Pattam, for cake.

An advertising company called 'This and That' was awarded the contract to prepare the invitation letter. In the order issued on February 2, it was recorded that the money was released from the Entertainment and Hospitality Account of the Treasury.

Last year's banquet was attended by 570 people. During that time, the government splashed Rs 9.24 lakh for the event. Governor Arif Muhammad Khan was denied invitation to this year’s event minding the interminable tussle raging between the government and Raj Bhavan. Congress and BJP leaders were invited to the banquet but they did not attend.