THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM central committee member AK Balan said that during the Oommen Chandy government, one minister went abroad 23 times and another minister 16 times. He also said that one of these ministers went abroad 12 times with his wife. AK Balan was speaking after inaugurating the Secretariat march led by the Scheduled Caste Welfare Committee.

"If you challenge, I will reveal the name of the minister who went abroad with his wife. The Loka Kerala Sabha abroad is not funded by the government. When I was a minister, many people were able to get jobs through the foreign trips I made. The UDF had opposed the Loka Kerala Sabha even when it was started. When the UAE government was willing to give 750 crores during the flood, the BJP government opposed it. Congress also supported the BJP. Some high officers are conniving with the Congress and BJP's efforts to deprive the LDF of votes," AK Balan said.

He said that he will try to implement reservation for scheduled castes in the aided sector through discussion. The leaders said that more than half a lakh people participated in the march, which was held demanding reservation in the aided sector and ensuring land and houses for the Scheduled Catergoy.