The LDF doesn’t have the guts to take a decision on its liquor policy, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
Addressing the ‘Porinte Pooratam,’ the Meet-the-Press programme, organised by the Thrissur Press Club on Saturday, he made it clear that no closed bars will be re-opened in the State.
“The UDF is very clear about its liquor policy. The sale of liquor has been reduced by around Rs. 7,300 crore due to our policy. It means the Rs. 7,300 crore has reached the respective homes. This amount will in turn reach the market and it will reach as tax to the State exchequer,” Mr. Chandy said.
Pooh-poohing the LDF stand on liquor, the Chief Minister said there have been various opinions within the LDF.
“The LDF encourages the bar owners. The LDF has fielded a bar owner against Shibu Baby John in Chavara. What they are doing is just ‘preaching on prohibition’.”
Refuting the observation that the liquor policy will negatively affect the victory possibility of the UDF, Mr. Chandy recalled that the UDF could win the by-polls even after the government implemented the liquor policy. The solar or bar issues could not affect the image of the UDF, he added.
When asked about who will be the next Chief Minister if the UDF wins the election, Mr. Chandy said the Congress does not have the practice of deciding the Chief Minister before the election.
A Chief Minister candidate will be chosen with consensus later, he added.
Answering a query, he said the UDF didn’t give land to Vijay Mallya. The 20-acre land was given for lease in 1971. Everybody knew who was the Minister then. The allegation that the UDF gave the land is false,” he said.
The UDF is very clear about its liquor policy. The sale of liquor has been reduced by around Rs. 7,300 crore due to our policy.
Oommen Chandy
