By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Gone are the days when a Left party in power signalled austerity and an end to extravagant spending.
Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Monday said that after his Left Front government assumed office in May 2006, 17 new cars were purchased for his cabinet colleagues at a cost of Rs.12,989,996.
Achuthanandan gave the information in a written reply in the state legislature to a question by opposition legislator George Mercier.
Including Achuthanandan, there are 19 ministers and today most of them move around in swanky four wheelers. The chief minister, however, moves around in an Ambassador car.
Achuthanandan can also take credit for having spent a mere Rs.347,000 on travelling expenses, while leading the pack was State Education Minister M.A. Baby with Rs.1.31 million.
Leader of opposition Oommen Chandy has spent Rs.838,000 on travel expenses. His travels include 26 trips to Delhi at a total cost of Rs.287,000.