Thiruvananthapuram: Thomas Isaac and C Divakaran are both members of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). But that did not stop Divakaran of the CPI from rebuking Finance Minister Thomas Isaac of the CPM.
The incident dates back to the time when the LDF government was headed by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.
"Finance minister not have any extra power, I am a minister too," the then Minister for Food & Civil Supplies Divakaran had retorted to Isaac for apparently trying to block a file.
Divakaran recounted the ‘old rivalry’ during the commemoratory function of revenue minister's private secretary D Saju on Saturday. Divakaran is the LDF candidate in Thiruvananthapruam.
Claiming that he never shieded away from speaking his mind, Divakaran said he would always make his point in the assembly.
"Finance minister does not have any major powers. If any projects of the CPI ministers are taken up in the assembly, other ministers would keep them aside, saying they had to study those. Then why is each minister given a portfolio? What power does the finance ministry have to interfere in other departments?” he sought to know.
“There is no point in saying you are a minister. It is not possible to give even 10 paise to a poor person without the finance ministry's approval. Even if you are a minister, you seldom get to do something significant. If I had been a panchayat member, I could have at least recommended for two houses as per the life plan," Divakaran said.
VS criticised too
Divakaran also lashed out at the Administrative Reforms Council led by former Chief Minister Achuthanandan.
"Even the media is asking what is the need for such a council? Have the people benefitted from this?" he asked.