LDF panel moots Vigilance probe into ‘aravana’ issue

The State committee of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has asked the government to hold a Vigilance investigation covering all aspects of the award of contract for supply of ‘aravana’ at Sabarimala.

Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the LDF committee here on Thursday, Front convener Vaikom Viswan said the Vigilance probe would focus on the contract rather than any individual. “If any person’s action needs to be looked into, the investigation would cover that as well,” he said when asked whether the investigation would cover Travancore Devaswom Board president C.K. Guptan as well.

The committee, he said, had not discussed Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran’s demand that the Devaswom Board members must resign in the light of the controversy over the ‘aravana’ contract. The committee did not think that the Board members would be able to influence the investigation if they remained in office when the probe was on.