Kerala CM Satheesan defends use of private chartered flights

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan is facing political scrutiny following his decision to travel via a privately arranged chartered flight to visit flood-affected areas in Malappuram. Satheesan defended the move, stating that a known individual arranged the flight to ensure he could reach the site quickly following a tragedy involving six deaths. He argued that accepting such private arrangements saves public money and noted that previous administrations had utilized similar methods.

The Chief Minister declined to disclose the identity of the individual who funded the flight and indicated he would continue to use such arrangements if required. In response, MV Govindan, State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized the decision as unconstitutional and a violation of the oath of office. Govindan questioned the lack of transparency regarding the sponsors of these flights and raised concerns about the business interests supporting the travel of other ministers.