Chandy keeps off controversy

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today refused to be drawn into a controversy over the inclusion State BJP President V Muraleedharan's name in the stone plaque to mark the work for NH bypass road attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Asked about the controversy, he said all arrangements for the function was carried out by officials of National Highway Authority.
However, "it is better that one himself take a just decision in such cases", he told reporters.
Congress never included name of Pradesh Congress Committee President in functions like this during the 10 year UPA regime, Chandy told reporters during cabinet briefing.

"It is the approach followed by congress and UDF', he added.
Inclusion of the name of Muraleedharan in the plauqe had triggered a row after V Sivankutty, CPI-M MLA objected to it holding that it was clear breach of protocol.

Sivankutty was also agitated over inclusion of Muraleedharan as 'august presence' in the programme sheet while MLAs like M A Vahid (Cong) and Jameela Prakasam (JD-S) and A T George and himself were given the position as felecitatators.
Reacting to the rwo, Muraleedharan had said that CPI-M was playing "cheap politics" over the issue and BJP stood for development of the state.

Gadkari inaugurated the by-pass construction work at Kazhakkootam and also announced Rs.34,000 crore worth road project to state yesterday.