Lavalin deal should be discussed in CPI(M): Achuthanandan

Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.S. Achuthanandan said on Friday that all the aspects relating to the SNC Lavalin deal that became controversial after the Canadian company refused to pay the promised Rs 128 crore to a cancer hospital should be discussed in detail within the CPI(M).

Talking to newspersons here Achuthanandan, the then convenor of the Left Democratic Front(LDF) said ''I don't remember whether the issue was discussed within the party or the LDF during the tenure of previous Nayanar Government.'' The CPI(M) politburo member said he strongly believed that the issue should be discussed within the party.

His remarks assume significance in view of the ongoing tug-of-war between him and CPI(M) State Secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, who was the then electricity minister.

As per the deal, the Canadian company had promised to give Rs 128 crore to the Malabar Cancer Centre in return for awarding the contract for the renovation of hydel projects.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front was alleging that the then Ministers, including Vijayan, were responsible for the failure to get the promised amount. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said a vigilance inquiry was in progress and it would be completed in a time-bound manner.