THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPI has decided to strongly express their displeasure at the LDF meeting over the government's abandonment of Supplyco. The LDF meeting will be held in the first week of next month. The government owes Rs 1525 crore to Supplyco in subsidy arrears alone.

Rs 146.61 crore is also due under the school lunch scheme. After Onam, there are no subsidized items except rice in the outlets. 500 crore rupees were requested to be released urgently to solve the crisis, but the finance department did not pay attention. There has already been a complaint that the CPI-ruled food department is being neglected. The CPI is also unhappy with the recent transfer of rice procurement from the Food Department to the CPM-ruled Cooperation Department.

At the front meeting, the CPI will demand that at least half of the dues be paid by declaring a special rescue package for Supplyco. Supplyco's demand to increase the price of subsidized goods will also be brought into focus. It was LDF's election announcement that there would be no price hike for five years. The demand to increase the price will not be accepted immediately.

The LDF leadership knows that if the prices are increased with Lok Sabha elections around the corner, it will backfire. The opposition is sure to be up in arms if the price is increased even slightly. On the 21st 'Kerala Kaumudi' published the news about Supplyco being in crisis.