Kerala MLAs get free LCDs

The agriculture department in Kerala has gifted Sony Bravia 22-inch LCD TVs — each costing about Rs.16,000 if purchased singly — to all 141 MLAs of Kerala, while the state is in the grip of severe drought, HT reports.

When there are no polls in sight, it is Kerala’s elected and not electors who are beneficiaries of the state’s largesse.

HT Image

The agriculture department has gifted Sony Bravia 22-inch LCD TVs — each costing about Rs.16,000 if purchased singly — to all 141 MLAs of Kerala, while the state is in the grip of severe drought.

Agriculture minister KP Mohanan defended his decision. “This is not the first time ... I had gifted water purifiers and paintings by Raja Ravi Varma earlier.”

Opposition leader and former chief minister VS Achuthanandan returned the TV, putting fellow LDF legislators, who had raised the drought issue, in a tricky situation.

However, CPI(M) deputy leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan supported the minister’s decision.