Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has convened an all-party meet to discuss the surge in coronavirus cases in the state. The meeting will be held on May 27 at 11 am. A video conference with the MPs and MLAs of the state has also been called on May 26 at 10:30 am.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had expressed his displeasure at the government for taking so long to hold the all-party meeting.
With just days remaining for the fourth phase of the lockdown to end, the meeting seemed futile an attempt, he said.
Vadakara MP K Muralidharan MP has said he would not be attending the meeting.
“A lot of MPs are angry, and rightly so. They had been instrumental in the collective fight against coronavirus. Several of them have utilized their MP funds for the strengthening of hospitals. It seems the government has forgotten their efforts,” Chennithala said.
However, Chennithala would be attending the meeting.
Vijayan admitted on Saturday that the all-party meeting is being called now on the request of the Opposition.
“The government wants to move ahead with the support of all. We are open to criticism and if there are flaws in the way we operate, we will look to correct them,” Vijayan said.
“There are many among the Opposition who acknowledge our work. We will and we must work together,” Vijayan added.
Kerala recorded its biggest one-day spike of coronavirus cases (62) on Saturday. With the ease of restrictions and the arrival of more and more people from abroad and other states, Kerala has seen its active cases double to 275 in two weeks.
Health Minister KK Shailaja warned failure to follow the norms would invite severe consequences. Now, with domestic flights too set to resume operations, the influx of people coming to Kerala would be high, the minister said. Kerala has laid out a list of guidelines to ensure that COVID protocols are strictly followed in the state.
“We will ramp up our efforts. We will introduce stringent measures,” Shailaja said.
