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VS’ stance an insult to people of Kerala: Vayalar Ravi

KOCHI: Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said here on Tuesday that Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his Cabinet colleague Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had challenged the move of the Election Commission and insulted the people of Kerala by declaring that the Central forces deployed in Kannur for the November 7 byelection would be confined to their barracks.

The State government, led by the Chief Minister, should help ensure that free and fair elections, said Mr. Ravi after a memorial meeting organised here at the Ernakulam Town Hall for the Archbishop of Varappuzha, Daniel Acharuparampil.

The Union Minister said that instead of helping the election process, the Chief Minister had challenged the rule of law. The Home Minister had virtually given a call to party cadres to do what they liked.

The decision to deploy Central forces in Kannur was taken by the Election Commission, he added.

Special Correspondent writes from Kannur:

United Democratic Front (UDF) convener P.P. Thankachan has said that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan’s reported stand on the Central forces deployed in Kannur in connection with the byelection exposes his ignorance of election rules.

Addressing a press meet in Kannur on Tuesday, Mr. Thankachan said the Chief Minister was apparently misled on the deployment of the Central forces in the constituency under direction from the Election Commission.

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