Political rivalry in Pala plays out in humdrum development projects

KC(M) and DCK come eye to eye over KSRTC terminal

Far from the high-voltage elections last year, the battle between the four decade-old Kerala Congress(M) and the fledgling Democratic Congress Kerala (DCK) led by Mani C. Kappan, MLA, over the high-profile Assembly segment of Pala is now playing out in the humdrum development projects.

After a brief lull, the two sides have once again come eye to eye over the new Kerala State Road Transport Corporation terminal in Pala town. The episode began to unfold with Mr. Kappan, the sitting legislator of Pala, announcing last week that works on the project, which had remained stalled for several years, had resumed following his meeting with Transport Minister Antony Raju.

The claim drew a sharp reaction from the KC(M), which instantly accused Mr. Kappan of claiming credit for the work done by someone else. Jose Tom, KC(M) general secretary, said the project was revived on an intervention by party chairman Jose K. Mani, who had met the Transport Minister in person and briefed him on the matter.