THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a twelve-day European tour, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has returned to Kerala. Health Minister Veena George has also returned. The Chief Minister along with his family returned to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai at around 3 am today. The return was after an official visit to Norway and the UK and a personal visit to Dubai. It is indicated that there will be a press conference of the Chief Minister today in connection with the European visit.

The Chief Minister went abroad with a group of ministers with plans to bring foreign investments to Kerala, sign many agreements beneficial to the state, conduct studies, and so on. Taking his family with him has drawn a lot of criticism. Leader of the opposition VD Satheesan also came forward demanding an explanation on what the state benefitted from the Chief Minister's foreign trip.

At the same time, Minister V Sivankutty had said that all matters related to foreign travel will be explained as soon as the Chief Minister returns."The ministers have not arrived. Is it right to term it lavishness before that? If the husband becomes a minister, can't the wife leave the house? They came at their own expense. The ministers took their wives with them. Achievements are not the same as buying things from a store. All that will be seen in the future.', Shivankutty said.

CPM State Secretary MV Govindan responded that the foreign travel of ministers is for the development of the state and not for entertainment. He was responding to Union Minister V Muraleedharan's criticism. V Muraleedharan said that the central government was not informed about the Chief Minister's foreign visit. He had also said that the chief minister and his family were having a picnic while the people were in fear for their lives.