CM VD Satheesan Rejects Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph’s Claim of Learning About Power Deal Through Media

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister VD Satheesan has rejected Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph’s statement that he learnt about all developments related to the GNA power agreement through the media. Satheesan questioned how the minister could have learnt about the matter from newspapers, insisting that no file could move from the department without the minister’s knowledge.

Satheesan said Sunny Joseph himself had forwarded the files, including the report warning of a power crisis. No file moves without the minister being informed, he said, adding that all decisions were taken after consultations with the minister.

Sunny Joseph had said he learnt about the cancellation of the GNA agreement through the media. He had also stated that the Chief Minister was taking decisions on the matter. Speaking to the media, the minister said the Chief Minister was above the department minister and could intervene in any department, provided that suggestions and opinions were sought. Satheesan, however, categorically rejected the minister’s remarks.

Satheesan said the government had initially decided to enter into an agreement with GNA but later withdrew after learning that electricity was no longer required.

He said the deadline for purchasing electricity from Himachal Pradesh had expired, leaving GNA as the only available option. Even in a comparison between the two, GNA was the better choice, he claimed.

Satheesan added that the initial report had warned of a possible power cut, but a new team had subsequently informed the government that additional power was not required.