<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan had first criticised the Games’ organisers.</p>
<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan had first criticised the Games’ organisers.</p>
