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CM Satheesan Defends Chartered Flight, Ministers' Foreign Trips: No State Funds Used
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News18•23-09-2026, 13:15
CM Satheesan Defends Chartered Flight, Ministers' Foreign Trips: No State Funds Used
- •Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan justified his chartered flight trip to rain-hit Malappuram and his cabinet colleagues' foreign visits, stating no state funds were used.
- •Satheesan refused to disclose the identity of the private individual who sponsored his flight, asserting he would continue such journeys if needed.
- •He defended the Malappuram trip as necessary due to a major tragedy, criticizing media for questioning his travel methods.
- •The Chief Minister also supported ministers' foreign trips, explaining that expatriate organizations sometimes buy tickets for official programs with his permission.
- •Satheesan dismissed concerns about Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji using a friend's luxury vehicle, citing Shaji's official vehicle was old.
Key Questions Answered
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan justified his chartered flight to Malappuram by stating that an acquaintance arranged the aircraft, no state funds were used, and the trip was necessary to assess the situation after a major tragedy claimed six lives in the northern district.
Opposition left outfits and the CPI(M) strongly criticized the Chief Minister's use of a chartered aircraft, alleging that accepting such a sponsored trip constitutes a violation of the oath of office.
CM Satheesan defended the foreign trips of his cabinet colleagues, stating that there was nothing wrong with expatriate organizations buying tickets for ministers to attend official programs, provided the trips had his permission and did not use state funds.