Kerala CM's chartered flight to Malappuram sparks sponsorship row
V.D. Satheesan's chartered flight to survey rain damage in Malappuram has drawn SFI criticism over who funded the trip, while his office says the state bore no cost.
A chartered flight used by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan for a Monday visit to Malappuram to review rainfall-related damage has become the focus of a political dispute, with the Students Federation of India (SFI) questioning who bore the cost of the trip.
The Chief Minister's Office said the special flight was arranged because the lease on the police helicopter had lapsed, and that the urgency of inspecting the disaster-affected areas left no alternative. It also stated that the charter did not result in any expenditure for the government.
Criticism came from the SFI, whose state secretary, Sanjeev P.S., took to social media to target the Chief Minister. He said it was alleged that a "sponsor" had covered the cost of the charter.
Sanjeev further argued that if the arrangement were described as a breach of the Oath of Office, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Congress would contend that it had caused the state no loss and had instead benefited the government.
The exchange has turned a logistical decision taken for a damage-assessment visit into a broader political argument over accountability and the funding of official travel.