'Don't attempt to be Super Chief Minister'; Minister Rajan slams Chief Secretary in cabinet meeting

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister K Rajan expressed his displeasure with the Chief Secretary in the cabinet meeting for not implementing the cabinet's direction to correct the proposal to dissolve the Housing Board and for taking a unilateral decision regarding the diversion of funds.

The minister was upset with the Chief Secretary for not implementing the direction to make corrections in the minutes of the meeting on the dissolution of the Housing Board despite requests from the cabinet. Minister Rajan got further provoked when the Chief Secretary made the proposal to divert the amount that came to the exchequer through wetland filling and land reclassification. Although the Chief Minister attempted to step in as the minister criticised the Chief Secretary, the minister didn't stop until he had finished speaking. Everyone else, including the CPI ministers, remained as mute spectators.

During the cabinet meeting, the Chief Secretary had proposed that the money collected by the Revenue Department in connection with the filling of paddy-wetland and land reclassification can be diverted and spent as the project allocation of the local bodies. Provoked by this, minister Rajan reminded the Chief Secretary not to try to become the "Super Chief Minister" of the state.

"The Left Front has not been dissolved yet. The cabinet still exists. The cabinet is implementing the LDF's directions. The last cabinet meeting had directed the Chief Secretary to correct the proposal regarding the dissolution of the housing board in the minutes. The corrected minutes have not been released yet. What is the obstacle? Is there any obstacle for officials to implement the cabinet directive?” the minister said.

Wetland filling and land reclassification are believed to have contributed close to Rs 900 crore to the exchequer. The exchequer received more than Rs 200 crores through the current land reclassification.