Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders stayed away from the launch of the Vizhinjam international multipurpose seaport project here on Saturday, but made it known that they would support it regardless of their reservations about the terms under which it had been awarded to the Adani Group.
“This is a dream project of the State and we want the port to come up. We have our reservations about the terms of the contract awarded to the Adani Group. When we considered the issue three weeks ago, our decision was to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. We decided to stay away only because we do not wish to share stage with Excise and Ports Minister K. Babu who faces charges of having taken bribe from bar owners,” CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told The Hindu here.
Mr. Balakrishnan, who also addressed the media after Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani called on him at the AKG Centre here, said he had communicated the stand of the Opposition to Mr. Adani during their meeting. “Our opposition is not to the project, but to the manner in which it is being implemented,” he said.
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Mr. Adani said that the CPI(M) leader was ‘very very positive’ about the project. . However, Mr. Balakrishnan said the terms of the agreement with the Adani Group would go against the interests of the State and that, if elected to power, the LDF would consider the legal aspects of changing the terms of the contract.