Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday alleged that "favouritism and nepotism that amounted to corruption" was involved in the grant of permission to Oasis Commercial Pvt. Ltd. to start brewery operations at Elappully Panchayat in Palakkad.

"This decision to start brewery, bottling and ethanol plants at Elappully without any assessment should be withdrawn," Chennithala said while taking part in the discussion on the Governor's Address in the Assembly on Wednesday. Chennithala raised the corruption allegations after giving the charges in writing to Speaker A N Shamseer under Rule 285 of the Assembly Rules and Procedure.

Chennithala wanted to know how the Oasis company was chosen to begin brewery operations. "Have you done any scientific studies prior to the sanction? Was the local panchayat asked? Were tenders invited? ," Chennithala asked. "The government says that water would be provided to the company through rainwater harvesting. Reality is, this region falls in the rain shadow region. Even Malabar Distilleries that is already functioning is not provided water. The government's popular brand 'Jawan' is not given water for its production. Industries in Kinfra park have no water. And most of all, there is no water to offer people," Chennithala said.

He said corruption was in the genes of the LDF. In 2018, the former opposition leader said the government had sanctioned three breweries and a distillery in dead secrecy. "Neither the Cabinet nor the Left Front or even the excise minister knew," Chennithala said. Then, he said dubious companies, even fake ones, were given permission to start breweries in four regions. He said the vehement objections raised by the opposition had forced the government to immediately withdraw it's decision.

Chennithala had then approached the then Governor Arif Mohammad Khan asking that the Chief Minister be prosecuted in the case. Then Governor had dismissed Chennithala's request. The case is still pending in the Kerala High Court.

Chennithala said that it was in 1999, when E K Nayanar was Chief Minister, that the government had decided to prohibit liquor manufacturing in Kerala. He said the subsequent governments headed by V S Achuthanandan and Oommen Chandy abided by the decision. "Why is Pinarayi so insistent on resuming liquor production in Kerala," Chennithala said.

He also had a poser for power minister K Krishnankutty. "You along with V S Achuthanandan had fought to close down the Coca Cola plant in Palakkad. Did you utter a word against the proposed brewery when it came up for consideration in the Cabinet," Chennithala said. The power minister sat silent, his gaze fixed on the desk before him.

The Chief Minister is expected to respond to the charges on the floor of the Assembly either today or tomorrow.