Power crisis: CPI(M) announces candle light protest on July 26, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph calls it ‘politically motivated’

Even as the CPI(M) scheduled a Statewide candle light protest on Sunday (July 26) against what it termed the Congress-led UDF government’s failure to ensure uninterrupted power supply, Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph has slammed the move, calling it ‘’politically motivated’’ and meant to hide its own past failures when in power.

CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan had said that the candle light protest will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, urging all households to be a part of it.

Responding to the CPI(M) announcement, Mr. Joseph described it as mistimed and said that the people will reject it. Mr. Joseph went on to add that the State government and the Kerala State Electricity Board were in the process of making arrangements to resolve the power crisis. Power curbs were required only on a few days, and the people were informed about it. However, the CPI(M) propaganda that the UDF government was responsible for the crisis has no basis, he said.

The cancellation of a clutch of long-term power supply contracts totalling 465 MW during the LDF government’s term is one of the reasons for the present crisis. Further, the LDF government had also failed in taking con­trol of the Man­i­yar small hydro­elec­tric project in Path­anamthitta dis­trict from Car­borundum Uni­ver­sal Ltd, he said.

The previous government had failed in restarting operations at the Barapole hydel project. The UDF government is taking steps to resolve the issues related to this project, Mr. Joseph said.

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) is also planning to organise protests against the operational crisis faced by local bodies under the UDF government due to Plan Fund cuts, he said. On July 30, the LDF’s people’s representatives will take out a march to the Secretariat. Protests will be held at panchayat offices on August 1 and 3.