Kerala govt will not continue Loka Kerala Sabha, CM V D Satheesan says

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday said his government would not continue the Loka Kerala Sabha in the form organised by the previous LDF administration, rejecting reports that the UDF government had reversed its earlier position.

Satheesan said the decision not to continue the Loka Kerala Sabha was a political position taken by the UDF and that there had been no change in that stand.

“The decision not to continue the Loka Kerala Sabha is a political decision of the UDF. There is no change in that,” Satheesan said in a statement posted on X.

He said the government had not allocated any money for a sixth edition of the Loka Kerala Sabha and that organising the forum in the manner followed by the previous LDF government was not under consideration.

His clarification came after reports earlier on Monday said the UDF government had granted administrative sanction for activities linked to the Loka Kerala Sabha, including up to ₹2 crore for administrative expenses and implementation of proposals.

Satheesan said the Loka Kerala Sabha Secretariat already has an office and that funds had been sanctioned only for its administrative expenses and essential programmes, including a Business Leadership Meet conducted through NORKA.

He added that welfare programmes for non-resident Keralites remained a priority for his government, with funds also intended for preliminary work to implement proposals aimed at the expatriate community.

The UDF had opposed and boycotted the Loka Kerala Sabha while in opposition, criticising aspects of its organisation and expenditure.