THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister K Krishnankutty said that he will not hold direct talks with the protestors over the ongoing tussle in the KSEB. He said neither he nor the front will intervene in the strike. The minister’s response was after holding talks with the KSEB chairman.

The minister said no ministerial level talks would be held and the chairman himself would take the initiative to resolve the issue. The board is in a financial crisis and the strike could not be extended, the minister said.

The minister said the union has no right to demand the removal of the chairman. There have been protests in the KSEB before. That's natural. The chairman has been directed to hold talks with the organization, the minister added.