IDUKKI: Former Power Minister M M Mani has come forward in response to KSEB chairman Dr B Ashok’s allegations stating irregularities in KSEB during his ministerial tenure. When I was the power minister, the electricity board had functioned at its best. Power production was increased. Among the Left ministers, I had performed generally better, said Mani.

‘I was the power minister for four and a half years. It was the golden age of KSEB. Now, the situation is such that the police have to go into the power house. On what ground has the electricity board chairman raised such criticisms? It is necessary to know whether the chairman's response was with the knowledge of the minister. I will respond in the matter after discussing with the chief minister. I am not going to respond to every other comment’, said Mani.

In the meantime, chairman B Ashok has replied that he had not mentioned anything about the irregularities in KSEB during the tenure of the former minister. ‘Unnecessary controversies should not be created. I have not made any allegations against the former government or the former minister. M M Mani is a leader whom I respect a lot. What I said was about the rules that need to be followed while leasing lands and I am convinced of what I have said’, added the chairman.

The controversy started when KSEB chairman B Ashok came forward with serious allegations against the Left union leaders. He expressed his criticism through a Facebook post titled ‘The shop has not caught fire; there is no need for the locals to come’. He had criticized the granting of Munnar hydel tourism project to the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM). He alleged that KSEB had leased land to several societies and that irregularities took place when M M Mani was the power minister. Left unions have staged an indefinite agitation alleging that chairman Ashok has been abusing his power causing financial wastage to the KSEB.

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