Controversy dogs Games preparation

Controversies over alleged irregularities in organising the 35th edition of the National Games in Kerala remained in focus on Sunday with more political leaders expressing displeasure over coordination of preparations.

The criticism follows barbs from the CPM-led Opposition in the state that even threatened non-cooperation during the event in the backdrop of the controversies.

Congress MLA K Muraleedharan urged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to convene a meeting of the Games’ organising committee to discuss issues surrounding the event. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday sought a probe into allegations of irregularities.

Delay in setting venue infrastructure, procuring equipment and alleged irregularities in roping in an event management company to run a campaign ahead of the Games had triggered controversies over the past couple of weeks.

United Democratic Front MLA and former sports minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Saturday quit his position in the event’s executive council protesting alleged mismanagement.

The event is proposed to be held between January 31 and February 14 at a cost of over Rs 600 crore in venues spread across Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. 

Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan had first criticised the Games’ organisers.