'I don't travel in any government vehicles, there is a reason behind it'; Pannyan Raveendran reveals his monthly income

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPI former state secretary Pannyan Raveendran has revealed his monthly income. In an interview given to Kaumudy TV, Pannyan Raveendran openly said that he gets Rs 21,000 per month as a pension.

Pannyan Raveendran also replied to the question of whether he will contest as a CPI candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"I had served as an MP for three years and four months. The then CPI Secretary Veliyam Bhargavan said that I should remain for one more term. Veliyam is like a teacher and a parent to me. However, I told him that I am not interested to continue as an MP," Panniyan Raveendran said.

He added that he has decided not to contest anymore.

"I'll tell you one thing. I don't travel in any government vehicles. I haven't travelled in any minister's vehicle. While I was an MP, I did not travel by putting an MP's board on the car. Do you know why? While I was the party's Assistant Secretary, I had to travel to Chadayamangalam to attend the General Body meeting. After the meeting, I was waiting for the KSRTC bus to return to Thiruvananthapuram. As I was waiting for the bus, a car stopped in front of me. It was a Kerala State car. Kariyan Ravi, who was the Additional Private Secretary of the then minister Chandrasekharan, was in that car. On seeing me, he came out of the car and asked me where I was going. When I told him that I was going to Thiruvananthapuram, he offered me a lift in the car," he said.

"As I reached Thiruvananthapuram, Aashan (Veliyam Bhargavan) saw me getting out of the state car. Later, he called me to his cabin and asked me in which car I travelled. When I told him that I travelled in Kariyan Ravi's car, he said, 'Kariyan Ravi came in a state car. You are CPI's State Assistant Secretary. Governance is below us. The party is above governance. The party comes first. A party leader like you should not travel in a state car. Don't repeat it.' I did not repeat it. That was a lesson for me,' Pannyan Raveendran said.