Finance Minister K.M. Mani on Thursday refuted the Opposition contention that new taluks were sanctioned on political considerations.
Replying to a debate on the motion regarding demands for grants on account in the Assembly, the Minister said that various committees had gone into re-organisation of taluks. The government adopted the best of their suggestions.
“Taluks are not allotted to political parties. Are there not CPI(M) and other Opposition parties in the new taluks such as Manjeswaram, Iritty or Tamarassery?” Mr. Mani asked. He continued that formation of taluks was not a closed chapter. There were demands for many taluks such as Ettumanoor, Erattupetta and so on. The government did not discriminate between ruling and Opposition members. Funds for asset creation, for instance, had been provided to constituencies of all members. He said the budget for the coming year aimed at inclusive growth. It was much more humanitarian than the budgets presented by his predecessor T.M. Thomas Isaac. The House adopted the motion for 72 votes against 63.
